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Wow, this is getting even more baffling. Looks like the Tom Clancy thriller conspiracies seem to be coming to fruition. My question is why did the airplane manufacturers allow access to the transponders so they can be deactivated? It should be mandatory for all civilian airliners to have a tamper proof transponder so no one will be able to deactivate it unless its on the ground.
As a pilot I am going to say no. That is a stupid idea.
Transponders sometimes malfunction and give erroneous data, and need to be shut off so they don't screw with air traffic control radar and a critical piece of safety equipment called TCAS. (a system designed to prevent mid-air collisions) And when that transponder has an electrical problem and the wires start to smoke, I need to shut it off before it starts my avionics on fire.
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