TRANSPONDER REPAIRS    
            

                              FLIGHT CONTROL SERVICES FAA CRS#OFHR414L 

                        USE THE ORDER FORM LINK ABOVE TO ORDER SERVICE

 Updated DEC 2023

FLIGHT TESTING

SELF TESTING A TRANSPONDER THAT HAS BEEN REPAIRED OR WHERE A RELATED AIRFRAME ISSUE WAS RESOLVED IS OFTEN NO MORE TROUBLE THAN UPDATING THE APPROPRIATE MAINTENANCE RECORDS BEFORE YOUR NEXT FLIGHT.

SELF TESTING A TRANSPONDER SYSTEM WITH KNOWN UNRESOLVED ISSUES IS ENTIRELY DIFFERENT.

A REPAIR STATION CAN APPROVE AN ITEM FOR RETURN TO SERVICE.  A LICENSED MECHANIC MAY AUTHORIZE A TEST FLIGHT.  BUT IT IS ONLY THE PILOT THAT CAN ACTUALLY RETURN AN ITEM TO SERVICE.  

THE SIGNAL YOUR TRANSPONDER SENDS IS PART OF BROAD PICTURE WHERE EACH ELEMENT HAS ACTUAL AND POTENTIAL IMPACT.  A MIS-REPORTING OR DEAD TRANSPONDER CAN VERY QUICKLY RAISE HAVOC AND RESULT IN DIVERTING AND GROUNDING AIRCRAFT WHILE CLEARING AIRSPACE.  SELF TESTING A TRANSPONDER KNOWN OR EVEN SUSPECTED OF BEING DEFECTIVE IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.

SAFEST WAY TO FLY

IS IF YOUR TRANSPONDER WAS REPAIRED WHERE A FAULT WAS VERIFIED AND HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR RETURN TO SERVICE, AND HAS BEEN PROPERLY REINSTALLED IN THE AIRCRAFT AND THERE IS NO REASON TO ASSUME FURTHER COMPLICATIONS, AND YOU HAVE PAPERWORK. 

IF AN AIRFRAME PROBLEM WAS FOUND AND RESOLVED BY YOUR MECHANIC/REPAIRMAN AND THE TRANSPONDER IS INSIDE OF IT'S 24 MONTH FAR 91.413 PERIOD, THEN FOLLOW HIS ADVICE.

BEFORE YOU DEPART

BEFORE ENGINE START SELECT THE TEST FUNCTION ON THE MODE SELECTOR FOR PROPER RESULTS.  AFTER DEPARTURE ADVISE ATC YOU JUST HAD YOUR TRANSPONDER REPAIRED AND IF THEY SEE YOU PROPERLY.  IF THEY GIVE YOU A SQUAWK CODE AND ASK YOU TO REPORT YOUR POSITION/ALTITUDE CONSIDER IT A SIGN OF COOPERATION.  IF NOT TOO BUSY YOU MIGHT ASK THEM TO MONITOR YOUR MODE C WHILE YOU TRANSITION TO YOUR TARGET ALTITUDE.