When operating under VFR below 18,000 feet MSL, unless otherwise authorized, what transponder code should be selected?

When operating under VFR below 18,000 feet MSL, unless otherwise authorized, what transponder code should be selected?

• A. 1200
• B. 7700
• C. 7600
• D. 0000

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that for VFR flight below 18,000 feet, the standard transponder (squawk) code used when you haven’t been given a specific code by ATC is 1200. This code flags you as VFR traffic to air traffic control, helping controllers distinguish you from IFR traffic and other situations. If ATC does assign a discrete code, you must set that code instead of 1200. The other codes indicate special conditions: 7700 is an emergency, 7600 is radio communications failure, and 0000 is not the normal VFR code. So the correct choice is 1200.

The main idea is that for VFR flight below 18,000 feet, the standard transponder (squawk) code used when you haven’t been given a specific code by ATC is 1200. This code flags you as VFR traffic to air traffic control, helping controllers distinguish you from IFR traffic and other situations. If ATC does assign a discrete code, you must set that code instead of 1200. The other codes indicate special conditions: 7700 is an emergency, 7600 is radio communications failure, and 0000 is not the normal VFR code. So the correct choice is 1200.