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Old May 24th 11, 10:58 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
zulu
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Posts: 14
Default New Transponder Code (1202) for Gliders (Effective Feb 9, 2012)

Actually I only worried about non-transponder equipped gliders when I
was flying into areas where I knew or suspected there to be glider
traffic like the Reno or Albuquerque areas.
Before the advent of TCAS, line pilots (for the most part) spent very
little time looking out the window during the descent and or the
approach phase in busy terminal areas, LAX for example.
Since the inclusion of TCAS equipment, line pilots (for the most part)
look out the window even less. The thinking being if it’s out there,
I’ll either catch it on TCAS or ATC will tell me about it.
In ATC land, if the radar scope does not show an alpha/numeric symbol
in conjunction with a target, it’s highly unlikely the controller will
see it and subsequently issue it as traffic.
I’ll even go out on a limb and say there are few if any controllers
out there working today who have ever worked radar before the advent
of alpha/numeric symbols.
All the fossils and geezers who worked in ATC prior to computer
enhanced radar scopes have long since retired and that includes me.