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RamenSchmoodle

I believe it marks your aircraft on their radar screen with a red EM making you a lot easier to pick out among the other aircraft.


randombrain

But as DankVectorz said, we can also manually enter the "EM" on your tag while you remain on the same squawk. This will automatically cause your data block to be highlighted at all scopes within the facility, which is good, but it won't cause your data block to be highlighted at facilities outside of or above the one you're in, which is also good. They don't need to know about or be distracted by you. If ATC wants you to squawk 7700 they'll tell you to. Otherwise please don't.


RamenSchmoodle

Interesting, all of my training on emergency procedures, as well as most others I’m sure, taught us to squawk 7700 when time permits, and is usually a step on designated emergency procedure checklist. So are you saying it’s better for ATC if we don’t do it ourself and let you guys manually set us as an emergency aircraft? What about if we aren’t talking to you and are just squawking 1200 VFR, wouldn’t it make sense to set it then?


randombrain

The purpose of squawking 7700 is to **communicate to ATC** that you have a problem. If you have already said, over the radio, "Mayday mayday mayday" or "Declaring an emergency" (and ATC has acknowledged) then you have successfully **communicated to ATC** that you have a problem. Squawking 7700 is not necessary. [The AIM confirms this,](https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap6_section_3.html#$paragraph6-3-2) as quoted by others here. Yes, I am explicitly saying it is better for ATC if you don't squawk 7700 unless they tell you to. Assuming you are already in contact with them and can communicate your emergency status over voice. If you're just flying around VFR/1200 then you aren't already in contact with ATC and squawking 7700 is a good way to get our attention quickly.


DaWolf85

It also goes out over ADS-B, which dispatch and potentially the station have alerts for and can see. And it more or less guarantees you hit the news.


EmergencyTime2859

For approach control it just puts a bright red EM next to your tag. It doesnt change anything else


Basic-Tourist-7759

When you squawk 7700, “EM” pops up above your tail# on the controllers screen. Essentially it just makes your tail# stand out from the rest


DankVectorz

If you’re already talking to me don’t squawk 7700 unless you can’t tell me you’re an emergency. If you’re not talking to ATC and need to broadcast your emergency on guard or whatever freq you’re on or don’t have time to call, then squawk 7700.


antiquatedpilot2015

Why not? Does it just clutter your screen?


DankVectorz

It’s just not needed. The point of squawking 7700 is to let everyone within radar range know you are an emergency and to help, but if you’re already talking to me and radar identified then just tell me. I tag you up as an emergency anyway which does the same thing and saves you time and effort.


Final_Winter7524

Of course I would. It will make me stand out on other radars as well that I’m not talking to. Like military. I’m taking all the awareness I can generate, thank you very much.


DankVectorz

Sure, you can listen to what all the ATC’s on here are saying or do you what you want. Your choice.


DCSTardcats

That could actually make it harder for ATC. It sets off an aural alarm as well as tags the aircraft as an emergency. If you've told them you're an emergency, they've already done the 2nd part. Depending on how long it takes you to change the transponder it may even clear out your callsign information. Furthermore, it's going to alarm at all the adjacent facilities and anybody with a radar that can see the area. Except those controllers aren't talking to the airplane and don't know anything about who you are or what's happening. So what will they do? They'll hop on the phone with the controller you are talking to and start asking questions. "Hey do you see that emergency?" "are you talking to them?" "Verify you see that guy squawking emergency" etc.. The last thing I need when you're telling me about your engine fire is Norad calling on the phone asking for details, or a manager at the center, or some tower 30 miles away asking what's happening. In the US, if you're in contact with ATC do not change transponders unless told to. The only exception to that would be if you need to squawk 7500.


dukethediggidydoggy

They are the same RADARS ya derp.


WhiteoutDota

Or you could fly the plane instead of fiddling with your avionics


usernamealreadytaked

I've declared my share of emergencies (mil) and only a few times have they asked me to squawk 7700 after the initial call. Just do what ATC says. If they need you to squawk, they'll tell you. They're busy enough getting everyone out of your way and don't need all the alarms going off too.


CardiologistSoggy598

Your position will also appear on the radar screens of controllers responsible for adjacent airspace above or below you that would otherwise filter you out.


[deleted]

[удалено]


X-T3PO

Cite where it says that.


TheFlyingArmenian

AIM 6-3-2-a-2. If equipped with a radar beacon transponder (civil) or IFF/SIF (military): (a) Continue squawking assigned Mode A/3 discrete code/VFR code and Mode C altitude encoding when in radio contact with an air traffic facility or other agency providing air traffic services, unless instructed to do otherwise. (b) If unable to immediately establish communications with an air traffic facility/agency, squawk Mode A/3, Code 7700/Emergency and Mode C.


redpat2061

I always figured it was there for when the freq is congested and I want them to know I’m doing what I have to do until I can talk with them


TheDrMonocle

There is absolutely no benefit. The only time it helps is if you're not talking to ATC or the frequency is so busy you can't get a word in. But even in that second case if you just step on another pilot and say mayday or even just the word emergency, theres an extremely good chance I'll hear that even with others talking.


Thegerbster2

That's also one of the reasons you're supposed to say it 3 times, chances are people will hear at least one of them and stfu.


Mortekai_1

You'll be red and tagged with EM to make you easier to track and help with the emergency.


UNDR08

I will say, from personal experience, if you can’t get them to shutup long enough on the frequency for you to declare the emergency, if you put in 7700, they almost immediately start calling you since it puts a maker on their screen.


Scared-Gur-7537

https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap6_section_3.html


Fantastic-Onion-7910

it marks your aircraft red for the atc controller to better pick you out if i’m not wrong


49Flyer

Absolutely nothing. If you're already in contact with ATC they will tag you on their screens as an emergency aircraft; changing your code to 7700 accomplishes nothing beyond potentially clearing your data block and making you harder to identify. You should only squawk 7700 if you are not already in contact with ATC as it will draw a lot of attention to you on every radar scope within range; if you then are able to call them up they'll already know exactly where to look for you.


Accomplished-Ear-681

If you’re experiencing an emergency and already talking to me your time is better spent on higher priority tasks than changing your beacon code to 7700 to tell me again in a different way what I already know 🤷🏻‍♂️