NationStates Jolt Archive

In another post The Sadder But Wiser was in New York when 9/11 happened. When he saw the second plane coming he asked what was wrong with NYC Controllers. I am a pilot with several hours. I've been in the cockpit as well as the tower. I have reaserched ATC role in 9/11. But first in order for you people to understand what is going on on the aviation side. I would like to explain a piece of radio on any aircraft that flies within US Airspace. The Transponder.

http://www.selectaviation.net/listings/n61339/gallery/images/radio%20&%20transponder.jpg

This is the Transponder (the raido that has 1200 dialed into it). The Transponder has 4 dials, each dial containing the number 0-7. The way this works is every aircraft that files an IFR flight plan. (Instrument Flight Rules), or wants ATC to follow them (VFR pilots, Visual Flight Rules) gets a unique number. The numbers are dialed into the Transponder. on an ATC screen the aircraft appears as a little dot, or dash, depending on the system. Beside the dot or dash, several things are display. The aircraft tail number, or flight number. Alititude, ground speed, and Transponder #. The Transponder # idenifies the aircraft for the ATC. Now the Transponder also has another usage. To relay an emergency situation to the ATC.

7500 - Hijacking
7600 - Communication failure
7700 - Other emerg.

It is now a wide known fact that all 4 aircraft squawked 7500 on 9/11. When this code is put in, an alarm does sound at its ATC location, AND at NORAD. The first problem was the aircrafts sharp turn to New York, and Washington area. It doesn't take long for ATC to realize this. The second problem came when all four aircrafts squawked 7500. Finally communication was lost. I'm sorry to say but after communication were lost, all the ATC could do is send an S.O.S. to militatry bases in the area for escort. I wish they could be able to do more, but all they could've done on that day is watch in horror as the aircraft descend into dangerous altittude (too close to the ground) and watch the aircraft dissapear from their scope. After that day a few Air Traffic Controllers from the New York area quit their jobs. I don't blame them.

It's not a job I'd want. One foul-up and you have hundreds of people dead in a fireball.

Yes, I thought about doing the ATC job, but I decided to keep aviation as a hobby. (an expensive hobby).

I didnt know that the Planes reported Hijacking? Since when?

I believe that ATC ranks among the top 10 most stressful jobs, due to the precision, vigilance, and responsibility inherent in it.

It is now a wide known fact that all 4 aircraft squawked 7500 on 9/11. When this code is put in, an alarm does sound at its ATC location, AND at NORAD.


Once NORAD is warned, they are supposed to send in escort planes -- they do it all the time. But on 9/11 they didn't -- what happened? Why did NORAD drop the ball?

Because Bush was too busy finishing My Pet Goat.

The planes on 9/11 never once squawked 7500 -- the transponders were turned off, which is typically an indication of an electrical malfunction. The first indication of a hijacking was at 8:24 when Boston ATC heard a transmission from one of the planes along the lines of "We have some planes." There was also a phone call from a stewardess a few minutes before that to AA reservations.

Changing a transponder code isn't exactly something done easily or quickly in a crisis -- and if the hijacker is a trained pilot, he'd know damn well what the pilot was doing. Working a transponder is part of day 1 instruction for a student pilot, and is included in the pre-takeoff checklist.

I work a transponder every time I go up, since I fly out of an airport in the Washington DC ADIZ.

Here's a good website, dunno how accurate it is, but it's comprehensive in the timeline of events.

http://www.911timeline.net/

Edit: More info on transponders

Once NORAD is warned, they are supposed to send in escort planes -- they do it all the time. But on 9/11 they didn't -- what happened? Why did NORAD drop the ball?

Actually NORAD was shut down on 9/11. Here are some website written by PILOTS, about 9/11.

http://home.comcast.net/~skydrifter/redux.htm

http://home.comcast.net/~skydrifter/exp.htm

I trust the words of pilots before I trust the words of government.

Actually NORAD was shut down on 9/11. Here are some website written by PILOTS, about 9/11.

http://home.comcast.net/~skydrifter/redux.htm

http://home.comcast.net/~skydrifter/exp.htm

I trust the words of pilots before I trust the words of government.

This dim-bulb lost me in the first paragraph: "there is still no significant 9-11 investigation under way." Not to put too fine a point on it, but bullshit!

This is way too strange, the system designed to stop the inevitable fails totally? Or the government allowed it to happen like Pearl Harbour?

Aside from what else has been said, the case has also been made about Payne Stewarts flight. It was escorted within 20 mins after loss of communications and it was readied to be shot down. After 5 mins when ATC can't get a response they launch planes, is this not so?