Message posted by Craig Nelsen on June 13, 2006 at 11:10:43 PST:

Most planes that are flown in areas where there is potential other air traffic are equipend with a "transponder" which when triggered by radar, sends out a radio signal. This signal is identified by a code that the pilot sets on the device. When are traffic tells a pilot to "SQUAWK" a number, that is the code the pilot is to set on the unit. The radar blip for the plane shows up with the code next to it.
This helps controlers keep track if different aircraft. Some units also report back the aircraft altitude.

In Reply to: what are squawks. posted by kmacka on June 12, 2006 at 19:50:28 PST:

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