Mode C refers to which capability?

Study for the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Mode C refers to which capability?

Explanation:
Mode C is the transponder capability that provides altitude information to air traffic control. When this mode is selected, the transponder replies with encoded altitude data, allowing ATC to determine the aircraft’s vertical position as well as its location. This is what enables vertical separation and 3D tracking in many controlled airspaces. This differs from Mode A, which only transmits a four-digit squawk code to identify the aircraft, and from the idea of reporting airspeed or “altitude tracking,” which are not how Mode C operates. So the best answer is that Mode C refers to altitude reporting.

Mode C is the transponder capability that provides altitude information to air traffic control. When this mode is selected, the transponder replies with encoded altitude data, allowing ATC to determine the aircraft’s vertical position as well as its location. This is what enables vertical separation and 3D tracking in many controlled airspaces.

This differs from Mode A, which only transmits a four-digit squawk code to identify the aircraft, and from the idea of reporting airspeed or “altitude tracking,” which are not how Mode C operates. So the best answer is that Mode C refers to altitude reporting.

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