Installing a transponder - Mode C allowed?

[James L]

I recently bought a plane without a transponder and have been looking into fitting one as I live near a bunch of controlled airspace.

I read somewhere that you are not allowed to fit Mode-Cs into aircraft anymore - if it's newly fitted, it must be Mode S. Is this true?

[tnowak]

I think you will find that you can still install a Mode C transponder.
TN

[James L]

I've read some rubbish then. Thanks!

[Steve Brown]

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/1/Mode%20S%20 ... 0Focus.pdf

http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid ... ageid=9311

My non-expert interpretation of these documents is that you can fit a Mode C for optional use but as the exemption for new fit Mode C has expired now, you may not be able to use it legally in a Transponder Mandatory Zone or Class A or Class C airspace.

Not sure how this stands in mandatory transponder zones/airspace in non UK airspace.

However if I am wrong I am sure someone will correct me.
Regards
Steve

[mikeblyth]

So you may be stopped and told to switch it off

[Brian Hope]

I thought that initially CAA were going to stop the fitting of Mode A/C to new builds but then had a change of heart and decided to allow fitment up till 2012. John Brady may be able to provide the difinitive answer as he was heavily involved in the origial discsussions about this.
In reality though, if you are transitting a TMZ or given a squawk to cross controlled airspace, provided your A/C is working OK nobody is going to question whether your aircraft is six months old or 60 years old.

[bob bowles]

All seems a bit pointless having a mode S transponder, there seems to be only one facility in UK than can interrogate mode S. Perhaps the ground stations should be enabled first.