Which squawk code is used for flights over water within 15 nautical miles of land?

The squawk code 1200 is used for VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flights, which includes general aviation flight operations, particularly when flying over water within 15 nautical miles of land. It indicates to air traffic control that the aircraft is operating in uncontrolled airspace or is not in contact with ATC, as is typically the case with recreational or non-commercial flights.

Using 1200 in such scenarios allows pilots to maintain situational awareness and enables ATC to easily identify VFR traffic on their radar screens. Pilots flying over water just off land are generally expected to use this code since they are often operating outside controlled airspace or in less regulated environments.

Other codes serve different purposes: for example, 7500 indicates a hijacking situation, 4000 is not recognized as a standard squawk code, and 7700 is used to signify an emergency situation. These codes have specific implications and do not apply to general VFR operations over water close to land, thus reinforcing the use of 1200 in this context.