[MilCom] flash vs. ident

[domyers at voicenet.com]

A few days ago some on the last were asking about tranponder settings and what is the
difference between "flash" and "ident".  I asked a friend of mine, who is a controller,
and here is his reponse.
Hope this helps.
Dan
Horsham, Pa


We use it (transponder) to identify aircraft. They (the pilot) push a button and 3
lines
show up and it is bright. That's how we can communicate with the aircraft without
people
knowing about it. Military uses FLASH airliners use IDENT.... it means the
same thing. If you hear an airliner using FLASH, he or she flies with the miltary.