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Transponder Altitude Hold Mode

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Instrument Rating

What is the purpose of a Transponder Altitude Hold Mode?

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2 Answers



  1. John Scarry on Mar 18, 2017

    The hold mode is something of a misnomer. It is actually a monitoring function that alerts you if you deviate from your cruise altitude.

    My GTX 330 says this “ALTITUDE MONITOR: Controlled by START/STOP key. Activates a voice alarm and warning annunciator when altitude limit is exceeded.”

    To operate the Altitude Monitor:
    1) Climb to assigned altitude.
    2) Press the FUNC key until ALT MONITOR is displayed.
    3) Press START/STOP key to start monitoring altitude.
    4) Press START/STOP key again to cancel Altitude Monitor.

    Other transponders, like the NARCO AT165 call it a hold mode,
    “Pressing the HOLD button will enter the Altitude Hold mode and lock the current altitude as the HOLD altitude. The Altitude display area will now show the altitude difference relative to the HOLD altitude in 100ft increments. The altitude display area will flash if the Altitude Buffer value is exceeded. This is a warning only and is not tied to any navigation systems.”

    I have never used it, and in fact just learned about it a week or so ago. It seems like it could be useful if you fly IFR and don’t have an autopilot.

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  2. Charles22 on Mar 18, 2017

    Question answered. Many thanks!

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