Squawk Codes

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)

Codes

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

Controlling Authority/Function

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