I recently passed my FRTOL, the examiner was a SATCO. He said they are perfectly happy for anyone flying VRF to reply "Squawk 7000". As we know, ATC give the generic 'ordinary' squawk instruction of Conspicuity rather than specifying 7000 or 2000, and the pilot pops the appropriate one on the box depending on which flight rules they are under, simples. All the other transponder codes are indeed to ID specific situations such as emergencies, lost, aeros, etc etc. *** Love the t-shirt, 'Fly like a Girl'! ***

I really enjoyed this. I have a PPL and often fly with my son who has ADHD but loves flying. Very much right brain visual learner in general. Once at the RAF museum, they let you sit in the cockpit and talked you through the start up. He listened and watched once and promptly did it as if he did it every day. Bigger picture is that every human learns differently and being neuro divergent does not mean that one is stupid, just gets to the same place a different way. Schools are not designed for that, just push kids through a factory curriculum. Sorry for the novel, but this was really a great and informative episode; thank you!

I'll be honest, if I get the "squawk conspicuity" I usually reply with "squawk 7000" very rarely do I say that dreaded word back to them! 😂

Brilliant discussion around neurodiversity and aviation. As someone diagnosed as a teen with ADD/ADHD I have struggled with written learning for my whole life and yet have always excelled in practical aptitude tests. I found that learning to fly was very straightforward for me as I could "feel" what was right in the cockpit before I could rationalize it. The written exams were always hard work but the practical side just clicked. Similarly with my career in Air Traffic - as a FISO I found that I could retain a huge amount of traffic and situation awareness in my mind, keeping up with the very busy summer days and being able to provide effective advice. This has translated to my career now as an ATCO - again the book work has always been very hard work but once a practical concept clicks for me things become "obvious" as to what needs to be done. I am absolutely convinced that we do people down who have a different brain type - there are people who have a huge aptitude who simply do not fit a conventional educational mold, and given the right opportunity will excel.

I was told by a controller when chatting at an airfield that they are happy with pilots answering "I will squawk 7000" or I will squawk 2000" as appropriate.

This is fascinating, quick back story, I am 56 and in primary school I was made to sit outside the class to read with a ruler, as I couldn't read aloud, secondary school wasn't much better, I wasn't bottom but close to, I finally left with just scraped 5 CSE's, I've always wanted to fly and finally about 3 weeks ago I finally completed my PPL, but I struggled with the theory all the way through, I searched the whole of KZfaq for UK help with the subjects and the ones I found helped no end as I to struggle to read a book and remember it all, thankfully a friend turns out is also Dyslexic and said try a school at Bournemouth, they specialise in learning difficulties and Dyslexic students, and finally last year I passed all 9 exams, such a relief, just waiting for my licence to come back now, but I and I'm sure there must be many more, would love to see you do a video on even basic things like how to fill in the log book, or what to expect on your final test, I couldn't find anything just just help me do the basic things. As for conspicuity, forget it. Wish I had known about mind maps, etc. I can relate to all she said. Happy to help if needed. Happy Christmas to one and all.

What a great episode and one that has impact for me. After holding my PPL for 20 years, 3 years ago at age 55, I was diagnosed with ADHD. Had it all my life but not known about it but it explains so many things that I've struggled with over the years. I was put on a low dose stimulant based medication which, frankly, was life changing. However, upon informing my AME I was immediately grounded and, despite a year of trying to get returned to flight status, the CAA steadfastly refused. My consultant said 'so, let me get this straight, we give you a medication that makes you able to focus and concentrate better and you're grounded but if you stop taking those meds you can fly again?'. So I made the decision to stop taking my meds and I'm able to fly again now. As I don't take any medication I can self-declare (microlight pilot PPL(A) with ML rating) but if I want to fly around Europe I'll need a class 2 medical but there's no barrier to that. It's completely crazy. I was told that there's not a single aviation organisation worldwide that will allow a pilot to take stimulant based medication (which almost all ADHD meds are) and still be allowed to fly. I decided that, at least for now, being able to fly my little microlight outweighed the benefits I'd get from taking medication in everyday life.

Interesting hearing the way that different regulators are, themselves, diverse in their approach to neurodiversity. My attention perked up when I heard "ADD/ADHD." In Australia, the topic rarely even comes up, and certainly not in the context of passing pilot license exams, because an ADD/ADHD diagnosis is sufficient to make CASA cancel a pilot's medical certificate. This places pilots in an unenviable position: They can either seek diagnosis and find their lives improving immeasurably due to treatment, but abandon aviation; Or they can keep their medical certificate by declining to be diagnosed, and spend their lives labouring under the weight of an unnecessary and treatable condition. For professional pilots, a diagnosis is very likely career-ending. That one visit to a doctor is all it takes, there's no going back after that. Better to suffer in silence, right? It was kinda refreshing hearing a mature discussion about the topic.

I can relate to your comment about flying about at 2000' and not noticing the scenery. I fly gliders and so spend most of my time flying solo or with instructors. The point being I am always concentrating on Aviating (then obviously Navigating, then communicating!) so I'm not really taking in the scenery, save for how much detail there is so I can estimate height AGL. Only when I flew as a passenger with a friend in his two seater did I have chance to really soak up the views and scenery. So much so that when my friend offered to let me have control I politely declined, stating that I was almost overawed by the sensation of just looking out of the window!!! After that flight I now have the perspective that the public have when I take them on a trial lesson. Often it is their first time in the air at all. I can now understand what they are processing. It really is magic.

I've been taught that as a VFR PPL student the correct response back to ATC is actually Squawk 7000, as it confirms to the controller that I am VFR.

Great video and brilliant to hear the focus on supporting Neuro-diversity. I was diagnosed as dyslexic myself I want to share that I was still successful in becoming a pilot in the RAF and was top of my training courses as well as scoring the highest aptitude score during selection. I personally see myself as highly skilled and I ‘pilot my life’ in a unique spectrum which non dyslexic people aren’t able to access! Now I work with lots of people in helping them discover their own personal uniqueness and zones of genius, because we all have them. 😊

What a fantastic woman and video on enlightening people that they can do what they thought was impossible due to what she was explaining. I was one of those "people" and then got my ppl when I was 40 years of age.. Something I thought was for the so called elite because I was brought up on a council estate. Believe me, it does not take much to make someone feel they are stupid and not good enough. Since the ppl, I went back to school full time and even completed an electrical installations course with flying colours, excuse the pun lol. But you are correct, my flying skills came easy, but I had to work differently to others to achieve the academic side, which I also done very well in all honesty. I am now building a kitfox and fly a piper cub quite regularly ready for when my plane is built. I am hoping to be able to inspire others alike when my plane is built, and teach in a way that others cannot. Because I will know how they think, to a certain degree anyway hopefully. Keep up the good work. Jeremy

Interesting video and insights - good work 👍😊👍 I know of a few pilots with dyslexia, diagnosed and undiagnosed, to varying degrees. Dyspraxia and dyslexia is hugely challenging for exams and the written word (written instructions too). Even more challenging when youve lived your life undiagnosed, after studying to post grad level. Then diagnosis/partial diagnosis comes along and is both a sigh of relief and then a challenge. The brain overload/work load is akin to driving down the motorway at 80mph whilst only being allowed to use second gear. Neuro-typical people, the things they take for granted? Just to be in a room full of people for a Neuro-diverse person can be like running a marathon or climbing Everest 😲🤕💜

Good explanation. It was a missed opportunity that CAP 413 doesn't allow you to read back with the squawk code you actually want to set. This is what some people do in practice, of course, but I wonder if the controllers are being trained to check that readback since it's not mandatory.

Congrats to both , Sarah, you are doing an excellent job😊, love the way of your approach greetings from Greece

glad I'm not the only one that struggles to say it. I now consistently respond squawk 7k

The amount of times we have sat in the cockpit laughing and practicing CONSPICUITY before calling up !!! - Cracked it by thinking we will be conspicuous (but got ity on the end) ??? - Been a while Jon, so hope you and the family are okay - Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Flying from a moderately large airport in Canada (Kamloops CYKA) I'm almost invariably on a discrete squawk code. "Squawk VFR" is the usual phraseology otherwise. The first time I flew to the U.S.A. I almost felt naked taking off from something that looked like a real airport (Bellingham KBLI) squawking 1200. Seattle Radio gave me a squawk code for the border once I activated my flight plan.

The cost barrier to a PPL and keeping ‘current’ aside, the second thing stopping me learning to fly is my autism and struggle with numeracy. I’ve been driving buses since 19 with no issue though, it calms me down a bit and makes me focus so I guess flying would do the same.

Fair play, she is doing fantastic work! Great video!

Conspicuity means more than 7000/2000. For instance, 7004 if carrying out aerobatics. All listed in UKAIP ENR 2.2.2. About 20 different codes.

“ Squawk conspiracy, conspik, oh damn it , I can’t even spell it , just make it 7000 “ .. 😀. My best Christmas greetings to you and your lovely family , and a happy and healthy 2024 and beyond . I’m conspicuous by my absence here in Sydney at moment .. cheers 🇦🇺🌲🦘

At Biggin the controllers always used "conspicuity" when I was training😅

Just gonna answer: ‘Squawking VFR’ !!!

A reminder of that thing in the sky - With the crazy weather this year, I've flow more in the winter than the summer. So many cancellations this year.

The CAA webpage on dyslexia says: "It can never be considered reasonable to make adjustments that will compromise safety. Although it is considered reasonable for students of most disciplines to have help from a scribe when writing essays, sitting exams etc. it cannot be considered reasonable for a pilot to have to rely on someone else when reading checklists, weather reports, instrument displays, charts etc. in flight. Scribes or other aids to word recognition should not be permitted in pilot training for this reason." That does seem rather narrow-minded. While you certainly can't have a scribe with you in the cockpit, there are other accommodations you could make (printing checklists on coloured paper could be useful for some dyslexics, for example). And a written exam relies far more heavily on reading and writing than anything you do in flight, so needing adjustments in an exam doesn't mean you would need them in flight. They could face legal action if they don't make a little more of an effort...

I was a solid C grade student all through school and some college - I'm sure I qualify some of the alphabet salad diagnoses. However, I now have no problem learning about all things aviation. 13k hours, 4 types, and now a check airman, so I've figured a few things out along the way. Being a monkey see monkey do type of learner, I have had to learn how to visualize what ritten werdz mean. Reading out loud over and over, drawing the big concepts out with a pen, and then trying to teach someone else seems to be my best way to remember when I don't have an instructor to help. Also, memorizing verbatim is a challenge. So, when trying to memorize the numerous immediate action items as written in the checklists, I have found that doing something else while reciting does wonders. Try bouncing a ball while walking, and reciting the checklists. Or really challenge one's self by balancing a broom bristles up in the palm while walking around other people's airplanes, hollerin' the checklists and limitations. (That's what my first evil instructor made me do lol)

Mr pendantry here: you mentioned that Earls Colne help you with you IMC renewal every 25 months. You meant IMC revalidation every 25 months. If it expired it would be a renewal, if you do it every 25 months it wont be a renewal as it is still current.

A belated Merry Christmas, Jon. I sent you a lengthy message about ground school exams to your facebook post so feel free to review when you find time. Cheers, Ab

I find the easiest way for me to say it is to make it one word "squawconpicuity" - either that or a Native American lady "Squaw Konspicuity" - two k sounds is a tongue twister, though.

I NZ and A U is the medical people there the people you have to convince casa is no problem once you meet standards and currant medical

Is that ICAO compliant?

Very interesting ! This can be useful also for people with the brain a bit "rusty"…

Interesting explanation - thanks! Its such a nonsense having non-ICAO standard terminology like this, as it confuses visiting pilots flying into our airspace. Class E exists in spades elsewhere eg France, and yet they don't squawk 'conspicuity' ;)

Same with hectopascals over millibars

Squawk VFR should be universal. Imagine that!!

Is this just another Brexit thing where the CAA try to be different to the rest of Europe/EASA? There is a reason that we all use the same terminology throughout the world: so that we can all understand and be understood. As an EASA pilot, I had not heard of this conspicuity thing before; in France ATC instructs the pilot what transponder frequency to enter = no confusion.

I live In Southend and saw G-BMIV flying in occasionally. Now I have a ATC Scanner I can listen to you on ATC! (plz don't reply to this the notification is annoying)

Strikes me that there are way to many s’s there .

There are 600,000 words in the Oxford English Dictionary. Was "conspicuity" really the best they could find? How about "Squawk Default"? Or "Squawk Standard"? They either didn't think at all or they deliberately chose a tongue twister...

Squawking conspi.. conspit.. squeaking 7000

Why ? Why the change? It makes no sense. It adds another complexity.

It's strange how Brits want to be different from the rest of Europe/world. They prefer their own ways, they left EU. Seems like they are still living their dream of the British Empire, which is no longer. Nobody will follow their strange practices. They will just stay different and a little weird on their island. Make everybody's life and flying more difficult.

Typical Uk, can imagine USA saying conspicuity 🤣🤣🤣, just look at are plane reg USA numbers verse UK letters!!

Nah its all about making life more difficult so you don't fly and enjoy yourself. They are doing the same with road traffic, closing roads, pinch points ,LTZ slow traffic lights. Aviation and 15min cities don't gell!

If I had a choice when flying commercially between a pilot that passed exams through their own hard work, or a pilot that was helped to pass the exams to ensure diversity tick boxes are filled, I know which I’d prefer. Agreed that this is in opposition to the mainstream narrative around DEI, but I think diversity should only come into play for roles that aren’t life or death. For those roles, it should purely be a meritocracy, not about inclusion for all.