As a pilot, it’s important to memorise the different emergency squawk codes. As a non-pilot, you might be thinking “whats the emergency and why are people squawking?”. In this post we’ll explain exactly what a transponder is and what it does, and also what these Squawk codes are and what they mean.
A transponder is a device on the aircraft that communicates with ATC radar. There are 3 emergency transponder codes reserved to let ATC know exactly what type of emergency you are having.
7500 – Hijacking
7600 – Lost radio/communications
7700 – General Emergency (Engine Failure, Medical Emergencies, etc)
0000.
0001.
0002.
0003-0005
0006.
0007.
0010.
0011.
0012.
0013.
0014.
0015.
0016.
0017.
0020.
0021.
0022.
0023.
0024.
0025.
0026.
0027.
0030.
0031.
0032.
0033.
0034.
0035.
0036.
0037.
0040.
0041-0042
0043-0044
0045.
0046.
0047.
0050.
0051.
0052.
0052.
0053.
0053.
0054.
0054.
0054.
0055.
0055.
0056.
0056.
0057.
0057.
0057.
0060.
0061.
0061.
0062-0077
0100.
0101-0117
0120-0137
0140-0177
0200.
0201-0213
0201-0217
0201-0257
0201-0257
0220.
0220-0237
0221-0247
0224-0243
0240.
0241-0246
0244.
0245-0267
0247.
0260.
0260-0261
0260-0261
0260-0267
0260-0267
0261-0267
0270-0277
0300.
0301-0377
0400.
0401.
0401.
0401-0420
0401-0430
0401-0437
0401-0467
0402-0416
0421-0446
0427.
0430-0443
0447.
0450-0456
0450-0456
0457.
0457.
0460-0466
0460-0467
0467.
0470-0477
0500.
0501-0577
0600.
0601-0637
0640-0677
0700.
0701-0777
1000.
1001-1077
1100.
1101-1137
1140-1177
1177.
1200.
1201-1277
1300.
1301-1327
1330-1357
1360-1377
1400.
1401-1407
1410-1437
1440-1477
1500-1577
1601-1677
1701-1727
1730-1746
1730-1756
1730-1767
1747.
1757.
1760-1777
1760-1777
2000.
2001-2077
2100.
2101-2177
2200.
2201-2277
2300.
2301-2337
2340-2377
2400-2477
2500.
2501-2577
2600.
2601-2620
2601-2637
2601-2645
2601-2657
2621-2630
2631-2637
2640-2657
2641-2642
2646-2647
2650.
2650-2653
2651-2657
2654.
2655-2677
2660-2675
2660-2677
2676-2677
2700.
2701-2737
2740-2777
3000.
3001-3077
3100.
3101-3127
3130-3177
3200.
3201-3202
3203-3216
3217-3220
3221-3257
3260-3277
3300.
3301-3304
3305-3307
3310-3367
3370-3377
3400.
3401-3457
3460-3477
3500.
3501-3507
3510-3537
3540-3577
3600.
3601-3623
3601-3632
3601-3634
3601-3644
3601-3647
3624.
3640-3645
3640-3665
3640-3677
3641-3677
3645.
3646.
3646-3657
3647-3653
3660-3677
3666.
3666.
3667.
3667-3677
3700.
3701-3710
3701-3710
3701-3717
3701-3736
3701-3747
3701-3747
3711.
3712.
3713.
3720.
3720-3727
3720-3766
3721-3754
3730-3736
3737.
3737.
3740-3745
3740-3747
3750.
3750-3763
3751.
3752.
3753.
3754.
3755.
3755-3762
3756-3765
3764-3767
3767.
3767.
3770-3777
4000.
4001-4077
4100.
4101-4127
4130-4177
4200.
4201-4214
4215-4247
4250.
4250-4257
4250-4267
4250-4277
4250-4277
4251-4267
4300.
4301-4307
4310-4323
4324-4337
4340-4353
4354-4377
4400.
4401-4427
4430-4477
4500.
4501.
4501-4515
4501-4520
4501-4547
4502-4547
4516-4517
4520-4524
4530-4542
4530-4567
4550-4567
4550-4572
4573.
4574.
4575.
4575.
4576-4577
4576-4577
4600.
4601.
4601.
4602-4607
4610-4667
4670-4676
4670-4677
4677.
4677.
4700.
4701-4777
5000.
5001-5012
5013-5017
5020-5046
5047.
5050-5067
5070.
5071-5077
5100.
5101-5177
5200.
5201-5260
5261-5270
5271-5277
5300.
5301-5377
5400.
5401-5477
5500.
5501-5577
5600.
5601-5647
5650-5657
5660-5677
5700.
5701-5777
6000.
6001-6007
6010-6037
6040-6077
6100.
6101-6107
6110-6137
6140-6147
6151-6157
6160.
6160-6176
6160-6176
6160-6177
6161-6167
6170.
6171-6177
6177.
6177.
6200.
6201-6227
6230-6247
6250-6257
6260-6277
6300.
6301-6377
6400.
6401-6457
6460-6477
6500.
6501-6577
6600.
6601-6677
6700.
6701-6747
6750-6777
7000.
7001.
7002.
7003.
7004.
7005.
7006.
7007.
7010.
7011-7013
7014-7027
7030-7045
7030-7046
7030-7047
7030-7066
7030-7077
7046-7047
7047.
7050-7056
7057.
7050-7077
7067.
7070-7076
7077.
7100.
7101-7177
7200.
7201-7247
7250-7257
7260-7267
7270-7277
7300.
7301-7307
7310-7327
7330-7347
7350.
7350-7361
7350-7365
7350-7367
7350-7376
7351-7377
7362.
7363.
7367-7373
7374.
7375.
7377.
7400.
7401-7437
7440-7477
7500.
7501-7537
7540-7547
7550-7577
7600.
7601-7607
7610-7617
7620-7657
7660-7677
7700.
7701-7717
7720-7727
7730-7757
7760-7775
7776-7777
SSR data unreliable
Height Monitoring Unit
Ground Transponder Testing
Not allocated
British Transport Police ASU
Off-shore Safety Area (OSA) Conspicuity
Aircraft operating outside of Birmingham CAS and monitoring Birmingham Radar
Solent Monitoring Code
Aircraft operating outside of EGLL/EGLC/EGKK CAS and monitoring Thames/Gatwick Radar
Aircraft operating outside of Luton/Stansted CAS and monitoring Luton/Essex Radar
Kent Air Ambulance (HMD21)
Essex Air Ambulance (HMD07)
Thames Valley Air Ambulance(HMD24)
Virgin HEMS (HMD27)
Air Ambulance Helicopter Emergency Medivac
Fixed-wing aircraft (Receiving service from a ship)
Helicopter(s) (Receiving service from a ship)
Aircraft engaged in actual SAR Operations
Radar Flight Evaluation/Calibration
Not allocated
Special Tasks (Mil) - activated under Special Flight Notification (SFN)
London AC (Swanwick) Ops Crossing/Joining CAS
FIR Lost
An aircraft receiving a radar service from Scottish D & D centre
Aircraft engaged in police air support operations
Aircraft Paradropping
Antenna trailing/target towing
Selected Flights - Helicopters
Helicopter Pipeline/Powerline Inspection Flights
Royal Flights - Helicopters
Civil Helicopters North Sea
Greater Manchester Police ASU
Metropolitan Police ASU
Sussex Police ASU
Essex Police ASU
Surrey Police ASU
Chiltern Police ASU (Western Base)
Chiltern Police ASU (Eastern Base)
Norfolk Police ASU
West Yorkshire Police ASU
Suffolk Police ASU
South Yorkshire Police ASU
Cambridgeshire Police ASU
Merseyside Police ASU
South and East Wales Police ASU
Cleveland Police ASU
Cheshire Police ASU
Northumbria Police ASU
North Midlands Police ASU
Strathclyde Police ASU
Humberside Police ASU
East Midlands Police ASU
West Midlands Police ASU
Lancashire Police ASU
Western Counties Police ASU
No 1 Air Control Centre
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises (activated by NOTAM)
Transit (ORCAM) Brussels
Transit (ORCAM) Germany
Transit (ORCAM) Amsterdam
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises (activated by NOTAM)
TC Stansted/TC Luton
RAF Leuchars
Ireland Domestic
RNAS Yeovilton
RAF Leuchars Conspicuity
RAF Shawbury
RAF Leuchars
Anglia Radar
RAF Shawbury Conspicuity
RAF Shawbury
North Denes Conspicuity
Anglia Radar
Cranfield Airport - IFR Conspicuity Purposes
Liverpool Airport Conspicuity
Coventry Airport Conspicuity
Oil Survey Helicopters - Faeroes/Iceland Gap
Westland Helicopters Yeovil
RAF Northolt
Liverpool Airport
Superdomestic - Ireland to UK, Germany and Benelux
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises (activated by NOTAM)
Transit (ORCAM) UK
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises (activated by NOTAM)
RAF Leeming Conspicuity
Shoreham Approach Procedural
Birmingham Approach
Exeter Approach
Ireland Domestic
RAF Lakenheath
RAF Leeming
Farnborough Radar/LARS
RAF Leeming (Topcliffe) Conspicuity
Edinburgh Approach
Farnborough LARS - Blackbushe Departures
Blackpool Approach
Farnborough Radar/LARS
Blackpool Approach (Liverpool Bay and Morecambe Bay Helicopters)
Farnborough LARS - Fairoaks Departures
Blackpool Approach
Farnborough Radar/LARS
Blackpool Approach (Liverpool Bay and Morecambe Bay Helicopters)
UK Domestic
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises (activated by NOTAM)
Transit (ORCAM) UK
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises (activated by NOTAM)
Transit (ORCAM) Germany
Transit (ORCAM) Paris
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises (activated by NOTAM)
Transit (ORCAM) Maastricht
IFR GAT flights operating in designated Mode S Airspace
Transit (ORCAM) Spain
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises (activated by NOTAM)
Transit (ORCAM) Rhein
Transit (ORCAM) UK
London AC (Swanwick) FIS
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises (activated by NOTAM)
Channel Islands Domestic
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises (activated by NOTAM)
NATO - Air Policing
Transit (ORCAM) Bremen
Transit (ORCAM) Munich
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises (activated by NOTAM)
UK Domestic
Superdomestic - Shannon to UK
Superdomestic - Dublin to UK
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises (activated by NOTAM)
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises (activated by NOTAM)
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises (activated by NOTAM)
Newquay Approach
RAF Coningsby
RAF Spadeadam
Newquay Conspicuity
RAF Coningsby Conspicuity
RAF Coningsby
RNAS Yeovilton Fighter Control
Aircraft from non SSR environment or on the aerodrome surface
Transit (ORCAM) Shannon
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises (activated by NOTAM)
Transit (ORCAM) Amsterdam
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises (activated by NOTAM)
Superdomestic UK to LF, LE, LP, GC and FA
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises (activated by NOTAM)
Transit (ORCAM) Bordeaux
Transit (ORCAM) Brest
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises (activated by NOTAM)
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises (activated by NOTAM)
Transit (ORCAM) Karlsruhe
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises (activated by NOTAM)
Aberdeen Approach
RAF Cranwell
MoD Boscombe Down
Irish Domestic Westbound departures and Eastbound arrivals
Aberdeen (Sumburgh Approach)
Aberdeen (Northern North Sea Off-shore)
Aberdeen (Northern North Sea Off-shore - Sumburgh Sector)
RAF Cranwell - Lincolnshire AIAA
MoD Boscombe Down - High Risks Trial
MoD Boscombe Down Conspicuity
Leeds Bradford Approach
MoD Boscombe Down
Leeds Bradford Conspicuity
Leeds Bradford Approach
Middle Wallop
Aberdeen (Northern North Sea Off-shore)
Middle Wallop Conspicuity
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises (activated by NOTAM)
Transit (ORCAM) Shannon
Transit (ORCAM) Zurich
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
Transit (ORCAM) Zurich
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
Transit (ORCAM) Germany
Transit (ORCAM) Amsterdam
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
UK Domestic (London TC (Swanwick) Special Sector Codes)
UK Domestic (London AC (Swanwick) Special Sector Codes)
UK Domestic
Superdomestic - UK to Oceanic via Shannon/Dublin
UK Domestic
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
Swanwick (Military) Special Tasks
London D&D Cell
Swanwick (Military)
UK Domestic
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
Superdomestic - UK to Germany, Netherlands and Benelux
Transit (ORCAM) Germany to UK
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
Transit (ORCAM) Luxembourg
Transit (ORCAM) Maastricht
Transit (ORCAM) Berlin
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
RAF Benson
Scottish ATSOCA Purposes
RAF Waddington
Cardiff Approach
Jersey Approach
RAF Benson Conspicuity
RAF Odiham
RAF Marham
Aberdeen (Northern North Sea Off-shore)
BAe Warton
Cardiff Approach - St Athan Conspicuity
RAF Odiham Conspicuity
Cardiff Approach
RAF Odiham
Solent Approach (Southampton)
Solent Radar Conspicuity
RAF Marham - Visual Recovery
RAF Marham - FIS Conspicuity
Solent Approach (Southampton)
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
Norwich Approach
BAe Woodford
Military aircraft under service from RN AEW aircraft in South West Approaches
RAF Brize Norton
Guernsey Approach
RAF Lossiemouth
Woodford Entry/Exit Lane (Woodford Inbounds and Outbounds)
Woodford Entry/Exit Lane (Manchester Inbounds)
Manchester VFR/SVFR (Outbounds)
RAF Cottesmore Conspicuity
RAF Valley
Newcastle Approach
RAF Cottesmore
RAF Valley
RAF Valley - Visual Recovery
RAF Brize Norton Approach Conspicuity
RAF Brize Norton
RAF Valley
RAF Valley - VFR VATA East
Gatwick Approach (TC)
RAF Valley - VFR VATA West
RAF Valley - RIFA
RAF Valley - Low Level Helicopters
RAF Valley - Special Tasks
RAF Valley
RAF Wittering Approach
RAF Valley - VATA IFR Traffic
Gatwick Tower
Redhill Approach Conspicuity
Newcastle Approach Conspicuity
ATSOCAS
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
Transit (ORCAM) Aix-en-Provence
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
Transit (ORCAM) Frankfurt
Transit (ORCAM) Dusseldorf
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
Heathrow Domestic
Superdomestic - Shannon inbound UK
Manston Conspicuity
Belfast City Approach
Aberdeen Approach
BAe Bristol Filton
Humberside Approach
Manston Approach
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
UK Domestic
UK Domestic (Gatwick Special Sector Codes)
UK Domestic (Scottish Special Sector Codes)
UK Domestic (SCoACC Special Sector Codes)
UK Domestic
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
Superdomestic - Brussels FIR to UK FIR
Superdomestic - UK to Eire and Oceanic
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
Wattisham Conspicuity
RAF Lyneham
Prestwick Approach
RAF Linton-on-Ouse
Wattisham Approach
RAF Lyneham Conspicuity
RAF Lyneham
MoD Aberporth
Plymouth (Military) Radar
Isle of Man
East Midlands Approach
East Midlands Approach Conspicuity
Not allocated
RAF Leeming/RAF Linton-on-Ouse
Southend Airport Conspicuity
RAF Colerne Conspicuity
Vale of York AIAA Conspicuity
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
Hawarden Conspicuity
RAF Wyton QGH Approach
Hawarden Approach
Scottish (Military) Radar
TC Stansted/TC Luton
RAF Coningsby RWS
Carlisle Airport Conspicuity
Luton Airport Tower Conspicuity
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
Special Events (activated by NOTAM)
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
TC Non-Standard Flights
UK Domestic
Farnborough LLARS
Farnborough LLARS Conspicuity
Bristol Approach
Bristol VFR Conspicuity
Bristol Approach
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
CRC Boulmer
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
Transit (ORCAM) UK
Transit (ORCAM) Dublin to Europe
Transit (ORCAM) Channel Islands
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
Transit (ORCAM) Barcelona
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
UK Domestic
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
Transit (ORCAM) Barcelona
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
Transit (ORCAM) Paris
Transit (ORCAM) Luxembourg
Transit (ORCAM) Reims
NATO - Aircraft receiving a service from AEW aircraft
Transit (ORCAM) Geneva
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises
UK Domestic
UK Domestic
London (Military) Radar
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises
London (Military) Radar
Scottish (Military) Radar
London (Military) Radar
Scottish (Military) Radar
Doncaster Sheffield Conspicuity
Cambridge Approach
Inverness Approach
Plymouth (Military) Radar
Doncaster Sheffield Approach
Aircraft operating outside of Doncaster Sheffield Controlled Airspace Zone
Doncaster Sheffield Approach
Cambridge Conspicuity
Inverness VFR Conspicuity
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises
Superdomestic - Dublin inbound UK
Superdomestic - UK to Scandinavia and Russia
Superdomestic - UK to Amsterdam
Superdomestic - Amsterdam to UK, Eire and Iceland
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises
Superdomestic - UK to France
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises
Swanwick (Military) Radar
UK Domestic
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises
CRC Scampton
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises
Transit (ORCAM) Germany
NATO - CAOC 9 Exercises
Transit (ORCAM) Reims
Transit (ORCAM) Aix-en-Provence
General Conspicuity code
Military Fixed-wing Low Level Conspicuity/Climbout
Danger Areas General
Red Arrows Transit/Display
Conspicuity Aerobatics and Display
High-Energy Manoeuvres
Autonomous Operations within TRA and TRA (G)
Open Skies Observation Aircraft
Operating in Aerodrome Traffic Pattern
Not allocated
UK Domestic
RNAS Culdrose
TC Thames/TC Heathrow
Aldergrove Approach
Durham Tees Valley Airport
Aberdeen (Northern North Sea Off-shore)
RNAS Culdrose Conspicuity
TC Thames (Biggin Hill Airport Conspicuity)
TC Thames/TC Heathrow
TC Thames (London City Airport Conspicuity)
RNAS Culdrose
Durham Tees Valley Airport Conspicuity
TC Thames/TC Heathrow
TC Thames (London Heliport Conspicuity)
London Control (Swanwick) Saturation Code
Transit (ORCAM) Brussels
RN Ships
Transit (ORCAM) Vienna
UK Superdomestic for destinations in France and Barcelona FIR
Superdomestic - Shannon/Dublin to France and Spain
Plymouth Radar Superdomestic for destinations in UK and France
Not allocated
Superdomestic - Shannon Eastbound landing UK
Superdomestic - UK to Netherlands
Superdomestic - Netherlands to UK
Norwich Approach Conspicuity
MoD Ops in EG D701 (Hebrides)
Manchester Approach
RNAS Culdrose
Bournemouth Approach/LARS
Norwich Approach
MoD Ops in EG D702 (Fort George)
MoD Ops in EG D703 (Tain)
Manchester Approach
Dundee Airport Conspicuity
Manchester TMA and Woodvale Local Area (Woodvale UAS Conspicuity)
Bournemouth Radar Conspicuity
MPA/DEFRA/Fishery Protection Conspicuity
UK Domestic
Superdomestic Spain and France to UK, Ireland, Iceland and North America
Special Purpose Code - Hi-Jacking
Transit (ORCAM) Geneva
Transit (ORCAM) Bremen
Transit (ORCAM) Paris
Special Purpose Code - Radio Failure
Superdomestic - Shannon/Dublin to Nordic States
Superdomestic - Ireland to UK
Superdomestic - UK to USA, Canada and Caribbean
Superdomestic - UK to USA, Canada, Canaries and Caribbean
Special Purpose Code - Emergency
Superdomestic - UK to France and Spain
Transit (ORCAM) Munich
Superdomestic - Shannon Eastbound landing UK
Superdomestic - UK to Channel Islands
SSR Monitors
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