Many aircraft have"transponders" that are basically radios designed to receive a query-signal, and transmit a reply. The military likes them because one plane can query another to find out if the other is Friend or Foe. Somehow the concept of "Neutral" seems to have been overlooked. All commercial aircraft by-default should be able to transpond a Neutral status.

This obviously won't do any good when some military idiot decides to "shoot first and ask questions later", but it might help.
-- Vernon, Jul 18 2014

<sigh>

[suggested-for-deletion], Baked and WKTE.

Specific transponder codes are already allocated for military, civil, GA, etc. …
-- 8th of 7, Jul 18 2014


In detail, all commercial planes have a transponder that identifies them as such. The SA-17 missile system (one of several known as the BUK) even has a specific warning that will tell the operator whether they are aiming at a commercial aircraft. Earlier systems rely on the operator knowing which transponder codes are which.

However, since an enemy who refused to comply with the standard could fly their attack craft with commercial transponders, they still allow the operator to fire even against "civillian" targets.
-- MechE, Jul 18 2014


" Ah'm trynda ducide iffn I shud far at 'em..."
-- normzone, Jul 18 2014


What [MechE] said.

<sigh>
-- 8th of 7, Jul 18 2014


What norm said, I think.
-- blissmiss, Jul 18 2014


IBBR = Identify Blonde Brunette Redhead ?
-- popbottle, Jul 19 2014


No, [popbottle], no=NPBN
-- blissmiss, Jul 19 2014


<sigh> Am I a Borg yet?
-- Voice, Jul 20 2014


If you have to ask...
-- pocmloc, Jul 20 2014



random, halfbakery