Which pilot sets the appropriate squawk and leaves the transponder in standby?

Which pilot sets the appropriate squawk and leaves the transponder in standby?

• A. Lead
• B. Wing
• C. Ground Control
• D. Air Traffic Control

Answer: (B)

The role of the wing pilot in an aircraft formation typically involves supporting the lead pilot and maintaining situational awareness. In this specific context, the wing pilot is responsible for setting the transponder to the appropriate squawk code while keeping it in standby mode. This allows the wing pilot to be prepared to communicate with air traffic control without broadcasting their position continuously, which is crucial when flying in close formation. By doing this, the wing pilot helps ensure the aircraft are not inadvertently detected or tracked on radar while still being ready for immediate switch to active transmission if needed. The lead pilot usually takes charge of navigation and command decisions, so the responsibility for managing the transponder communication is delegated to the wing pilot to allow for organized communication and operational efficiency. Ground control and air traffic control, on the other hand, serve the roles of managing traffic and providing instructions but do not set the transponder codes themselves; this is the responsibility of the pilots.

The role of the wing pilot in an aircraft formation typically involves supporting the lead pilot and maintaining situational awareness. In this specific context, the wing pilot is responsible for setting the transponder to the appropriate squawk code while keeping it in standby mode. This allows the wing pilot to be prepared to communicate with air traffic control without broadcasting their position continuously, which is crucial when flying in close formation. By doing this, the wing pilot helps ensure the aircraft are not inadvertently detected or tracked on radar while still being ready for immediate switch to active transmission if needed.

The lead pilot usually takes charge of navigation and command decisions, so the responsibility for managing the transponder communication is delegated to the wing pilot to allow for organized communication and operational efficiency. Ground control and air traffic control, on the other hand, serve the roles of managing traffic and providing instructions but do not set the transponder codes themselves; this is the responsibility of the pilots.