Question For ATC Guys About Altitude Deviations

[User546]

A previous post reminds me of a question I always wanted to ask an ATC'er.

When you see an airplane that is off his altitude, and you query him regarding it - the typical response of the pilot is to report that he's at his assigned altitude, then immediately climb back up to the assigned altitude (before getting "caught")

Can you see the airplane climbing on your scopes after they report they're at the altitude they should be, but aren't? And if so, do you guys usually get a kick out of it or make comments to your fellow buddies about it?

In other words, are all us liars out there not really as sneaky as we think??

 

[Icelandair]

They probably can see you i see on the electronic transponders we have that it shows our pressure altitude on it so i assume ATC can see it as well.

 

[Immelman]

Cannot answer the ATC part but I agree with Iceland; I've seen a xpdr hooked up to a mode-C test-box and you just get a number back in hundreds of feet that the encoder is reporting... and also remember that most ATC radar sweeps around about once every 10-12 seconds if I remember correctly.. so.. yes, they'll see your altitude all right.

 

[Lrjtcaptain]

Well of course we can, but in the terminal i can't answer the questions for assigned altitudes because we dont usually care to much, your either landing or taking off at my airport.

But on our scopes we can see where you are, but keep in mind that xpdr's can send a faulty altitude. I think legal tollerance is + or - 300 feet. But if your xpdr says 034 and your supposed to be at 030 and begin decsend, your mode c is gonna show 030 when you get there.

 

[Jim]

If you are going to lie, do it right. "I show on altitude, let me switch to my second transponder". Turn the sucker off, get on the right altitude and turn it back on. "Okay the second transponder is on, what are you showing now?"

 

[User546]

If you are going to lie, do it right. "I show on altitude, let me switch to my second transponder". Turn the sucker off, get on the right altitude and turn it back on. "Okay the second transponder is on, what are you showing now?"

** Jotting down into flight notebook **

Thanks Jim!

 

[JAFI]

** Jotting down into flight notebook **

Thanks Jim!

So how many times do you think the Judges have heard the "Faulty Transponder story"??

I wasn't there, it was my identical twin.

The sun was in my eyes.

I did not buy that (truck/auto) part, they must have shipped the wrong (unapproved) part from the factory.

This isn't my hand in the cookie jar....

JAFI

 

[FN FAL]

trust in haste, regret at leisure.

 

[Immelman]

Just recently I finally flew an aircraft with two transponders....seriously!

On another note, I was once IFR and the encoder WAS off 300 ft... they called me to check altitude, I told em I was right on, and then wound up sending a letter to the aircraft owner (I am a renter) telling him to get his encoder re-calibrated... no other action taken just the letter.

 

[zbwmy]

I as a center controller have seen aircraft move back to their assigned altitude after a query. We know some of it is pilot error, some of it is bad altimeter, and some of it is bad transponder.
Yeah we're onto you, but how many times can I say the ride smoothes out on the next frequency too! Go's both ways right?

 

[jetdriven]

after turning off the transponder, get back on your assigned altitude, and turn it back on. then write up the darn thing after you get to your destination. if the FAA comes after you you have 'resonable doubt" the thing is accurate.