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    roger of Australia

    March 13, 2014

    hi . why do the pilots have the option of switching the transponder on or off ? why not have it on at all times the aircraft is flying with no chance for the pilots to disengage it ? there must be an obscure reason why , after 9/11 in particular ? please inform me about the answer. thank you . roger lindfors

    Editors' Comment

    There could be several reasons. One reason could be when airplanes get close to each other (perhaps they are approaching an airport). Air traffic controllers may then request pilots turn the transponders off or to standby. Also, if the transponder is sending faulty information, the pilot might want to turn it off.
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