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Jimellow · 05-23-2006, 08:39 PM

After watching National Geographic's "Seconds From Disaster" regarding the tragedy, it appears that planes have a transponder that transmits data and communications to flight towers/control. The terrorists apparently turned this transponder off, and my question is why such a vital feature would even have an "off" switch.

The program is very well done. They are examining the lack of enough damage to represent a plane loaded with 1500 gallons of fuel. Their approach is not that of denying a plane existed, but instead the means that caused such an impact to leave such a "small" area of damage.

Anyway, my question is in regards to why a flight transponder would be able to be turned off, and disabled, as it seems like a very vital aspect of flying that one would want to be on at all times, especially during a time of crises.

05-23-2006, 08:39 PM	#357 (permalink)
Jimellow Junkie	After watching National Geographic's "Seconds From Disaster" regarding the tragedy, it appears that planes have a transponder that transmits data and communications to flight towers/control. The terrorists apparently turned this transponder off, and my question is why such a vital feature would even have an "off" switch. The program is very well done. They are examining the lack of enough damage to represent a plane loaded with 1500 gallons of fuel. Their approach is not that of denying a plane existed, but instead the means that caused such an impact to leave such a "small" area of damage. Anyway, my question is in regards to why a flight transponder would be able to be turned off, and disabled, as it seems like a very vital aspect of flying that one would want to be on at all times, especially during a time of crises. __________________ Desperation is no excuse for lowering one's standards.