What must a controller do if an aircraft is suspected of reporting an invalid Mode C altitude?

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When there's a suspicion that an aircraft is reporting an invalid Mode C altitude, the appropriate course of action is to instruct the pilot to disable altitude reporting. This is crucial because an invalid altitude can lead to dangerous situations, particularly in busy airspace where altitude separation is paramount for safety. By turning off altitude reporting, the controller can eliminate the erroneous data from the radar display and ensure that the aircraft does not inadvertently create conflicts with other aircraft operating at different altitudes. Additionally, notifying a supervisor is integral, as they can provide further assistance or take even more necessary actions to maintain safety in the airspace.

The other options do not adequately address the issue of safety and altitude reporting validity. Changing frequency would not solve the problem of invalid altitude data, ignoring the report can lead to critical safety oversights, and making contact with the aircraft’s company does not provide an immediate resolution to the altitude reporting issue. Therefore, the instruction to turn off altitude reporting while notifying the supervisor appropriately prioritizes safety and operational integrity.

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