AirNav RadarBox Features: Flight Alerts & Emergencies

The Image Above: Last Flight Alerts and Emergencies Page

Every day we receive a large number of notifications of flights alerts and emergencies all over the world. Usually, these notifications are issued via squawks (7500, 7600 & 7700). 

What does Squawks mean?

In short, a squawk means "select transponder code" and is used by the air traffic tower to designate a transponder code for a particular aircraft. Squawk codes are composed of four digits, which are usually assigned a number between zero and seven.

History 

SQUAWKing was a term designated during World War II, when "Identification Friend or Foe" (IFF) systems were installed on aircraft to determine whether an aircraft was an ally or an enemy and avoid any friendly fire using two-way communication through a transponder.

What's a transponder?

Trig TT31 Transponder - Image Source: SEA

The transponder is an essential instrument for an aircraft that consists of the avionics system located on board that provides aircraft identification information, altitude, and other information to ATC and TCAS on other aircraft.

The squawks nowadays

It is also used by pilots to declare an emergency, communication loss, or radio failure, among other reasons. Briefly, squawks refer to messages originating from an aircraft's transponder - or the radio equipment of a specific aircraft that allows communication with air traffic control (ATC). In Europe, for example, the squawk 7000 is used for VFR (Visual Rules Flight) flights. Therefore, squawks depend on the context, among other aspects of flight. Or squawk 7777 generally sed in the U.S. for military aircraft engaged in intercept operations without ATC clearance. 

Used as a constant communication tool between air traffic control (ATC) and the aircraft (pilot), the squawk is also used as a specific transponder code that the aircraft can use to identify itself or to send a specific message to air traffic control or to request a change in the flight plan, divert to a closer airport or return to a specific airport, etc.

Squawks 7500, 7600 & 7700 

Squawk 7500 (Unlawful interference/hijack) - This squawk code is generally used for an aircraft hijacking. 

Squawk 7600 (Radio communications failure) - This code is used for a loss of communication or radio failure. 

Squawk 7700 (Emergency and Mayday) - This squawk can be used for various reasons, including medical emergencies, engine failure, problems with pressurization or landing gear, etc.

Flight Alerts and Emergencies page

AirNav RadarBox provides a page entirely focused on flight alerts and emergencies issued via squawks daily on AirNav RadarBox. On average, 77,000-81,000 flights are recorded worldwide daily; of these, 5-7 flights declare an emergency or alert via squawks 7500,7600 or 7700 generally, often medical emergencies (20%), technical problems (60%), and radio and communication failure (20%).

To find such a page focused on emergencies and alerts, visit RadarBox.com, "History", and select the "Alerts and Emergencies" page.

The Image Above: RadarBox.com History Tab

Opening this page, you'll be able to find all flights that have declared alerts or emergencies throughout the week. In the example below, we clicked on easyJet flight UA28605 from London (LGW/EGKK) to Malaga (AGP/LEMG), which diverted to Saint Helier (JER/EGJJ due to an emergency.

The Image Above: Last Flight Alerts and Emergencies Page

By clicking on the flight, you'll see all the flight plan details, flight history (altitude, speed, squawk, etc.).

The Image Above: Easyjet U28605 Flight Page

Then click on the graph to display all the details (altitude, speed, data source, time, day, etc.).

The Image Above: Easyjet U28605 Flight Page (Tracklog)

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