[Scan-DC] 324.0

[Gary Chatters]

>
>Sure they didn't say, "squawking mode C"?????
>
>Thats when the pilot turns on his transponder so the air traffic controller 
>can see him on radar, I believe. I'm no pilot or air traffic control, but I 
>believe thats the basic idea behind the instruction you heard.
>

I just checked one of my old aviation books on this.  There are
seven transponder modes 1, 2, 3, A, B, C, D.  Modes 1-3 are military,
A-D are civilian.  Mode 3 is equivalent to mode A.

This pilot could have been saying "mode 3" equivalent to civil mode A
(basic numeric response) or "mode C" which is a civilian designation
for transponder including altitude response.  Doesn't seem likely
that it would be "code 3".  Transponders do send a numeric code,
but it is a 4 digit octal number.

Transponders are generally left on all the time, but the numeric
codes and modes may be changed.

gc