"Squawking Company"

MFD4305 · May 28, 2015

Like everyone who knows enough to find this forum, I understand the basics of transponders. I'm familiar with ATC-assigned flight-specific codes and emergency codes. But I've recently heard frequent references by aircraft to "squawking company." What does that mean?
TIA

DONCO234 · May 28, 2015

pre assigned transponder codes for large airlines

AirScan · May 28, 2015

But I've recently heard frequent references by aircraft to "squawking company." What does that mean?

In over 30 years flying and monitoring I've never heard anyone say "squawking company" ? Can you provide more context, location, aircraft type ?

ColoradoRedlands · May 29, 2015

MFD4305 said:
Like everyone who knows enough to find this forum, I understand the basics of transponders. I'm familiar with ATC-assigned flight-specific codes and emergency codes. But I've recently heard frequent references by aircraft to "squawking company." What does that mean?
TIA

Ill take a wild guess and say your were probably hearing a Customs aircraft on a CBP channel. They often say this and it is a reference to special codes used by CBP when on operational missions when they don't want to say the code over then air.

I don't think I have ever heard them say that on ATC.

ColoradoRedlands · May 29, 2015

DONCO234 said:
pre assigned transponder codes for large airlines

Im curious about your answer. I have never heard of a procedure like that. Can you tell me more?

majoco · May 29, 2015

Easy. Do it all the time here. Each flight over the same route every day has been allocated the same squawk which corresponds to the flight number, often the last three numbers. No need for ATC to tell the copilot on the pre-flight what the squawk code is - the copilot knows, ATC knows and he just says 'squawking the agreed code between you and our ops people" AKA "squawking company".

AirScan · May 29, 2015

ATC knows and he just says 'squawking the agreed code between you and our ops people" AKA "squawking company".

In New Zealand do they actually use the phraseology "squawking company" ? Or is it standard practice to read back the actual code (number) ? When would you typically have to give ATC your squawk code anyway ?

I know in some countries ATC will ask you to confirm your squawk code on initial contact airborne, in North America operating IFR the only time you typically would have to read back a squawk code is when getting your initial clearance before departure.

ab3a · May 29, 2015

majoco said:
Easy. Do it all the time here. Each flight over the same route every day has been allocated the same squawk which corresponds to the flight number, often the last three numbers. No need for ATC to tell the copilot on the pre-flight what the squawk code is - the copilot knows, ATC knows and he just says 'squawking the agreed code between you and our ops people" AKA "squawking company".

Does that mean all flight numbers in NZ are in octal?

profiledescent · May 29, 2015

DONCO234 said:
pre assigned transponder codes for large airlines

In 29 years of ATC, the airlines never had preassigned codes. Random assignment 1 hr before proposed departure time, same as any other flight plan in the computer.

majoco · May 30, 2015

Does that mean all flight numbers in NZ are in octal?

"Corresponds" to the flight number, not "is" the flight number. If the flight number is something with an 8 or 9 in it then obviously the squawk won't be the flight number.

zz0468 · May 30, 2015

I did a careful Google search of the term "squawk company" and similar, and found precious few returns. Virtually all of them were contained in documents relating to either military or Border Patrol operations.

MFD4305 · Jun 2, 2015

Possibly the Answer?

The article includes Phoenix among the cities where the flights take place...

FBI behind mysterious surveillance aircraft over US cities - FOX 10 News | fox10phoenix.com

freqhopping · Jun 3, 2015

FBI "company" codes
4414
4415

Other feds use 44##

thenewsden · Jun 3, 2015

I typically hear medevacs tell ATC they have "company squawk".

Markb · Jun 3, 2015

Here In Southern California, presumably in part due to the KLAX Class B airspace, most, if not all fire and law aircraft have common discrete squaws. I usually see either 42XX or 43XX.
I also see the FBI company and CPB 44XX squawks as well.

DaveNF2G · Jun 4, 2015

There might be some regional blocks allocated, but any aircraft leaving that region must have a code that is not duplicated in whatever part of the system they might be flying. As far as anyone has been able to determine, except for the special 7xxx codes, there are no universally allocated squawk codes. (There is 1200 for VFR, but nowadays even VFR aircraft squawk many different codes.)

nr2d · Jun 4, 2015

freqhopping said:
FBI "company" codes
4414
4415

Other feds use 44##

I assume by "Other feds use 44##" you mean other fed law enforcement feds. I can't vouch for military aircraft but I know the R&D aircraft here at the FAA Tech Center in Egg Harbor Twp. NJ and the FAA flight inspection aircraft nation wide use the squawk codes assigned by ATC.

ericcarlson · Jun 7, 2015

The context would help on this one.

4414 and 4415 are used by FBI as noted.

I've also heard CBP use the "squawking company X" on the CBP freqs, where X is 1, 2, 3, 4, or 10 (that I've heard).

More common for me is "squawking preassigned" on ATC freqs. For some examples of this in Houston see this wiki page: http://wiki.radioreference.com/inde..._Approach_Control_(TRACON)_Harris_County_(TX))

ericcarlson · Jun 7, 2015

I'm not sure on the CBP ranges, but I have seen them use 4410, so that may be "company 10" if they're using the lower 44xx federal law enforcement range. I've also seen 4404 for CBP.

freqhopping · Jun 7, 2015

In the DC area DHS uses 4401-4409 or so. With the last number corresponding to the suffix of Omaha-X.

And then there are the usable medevac flights with fixed codes.
Aircare1=5201
Aircare2=5202
Aircare3=5203
Aircare4=5204
Fairfax Co PD helo is always 0271.
Other medevacs are also in the 52xx range when in the DC area.

"Squawking Company"

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