11 February, 2009

Flying tip #6 - The Mayday Call

I took this photo of a PA-28-236Image via Wikipedia
Hopefully no-one will ever need to make a genuine mayday call during their flying career and indeed the large majority of pilots never do have to make one.

But if you did, are you aware that there is a right and wrong way to do this? It's the only instant fail part of the Radio Telephony licence under JAR rules so it's worth getting it right and remembering it.

The correct format can be remembered using the mnemonic NAAN IPPA:

MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY (yes, three times)
Name of station addressed
Aircraft callsign
Aircraft type
Nature of emergency
Intentions of pilot
Position (or last known psition): flight level/Altitude/Height; heading
Pilot Qualifications (No instrument qualifications: IMC rating etc.)
Any other useful information e.q. persons on board etc.


So as an example if you were Grumman 34 and you had experienced an engine failure you would say:

MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY Thruxton Radio this is Grumman 3, a Cessna 150 with total engine failure attempting forced landing at Bourne Park. Last known position 7 miles north of Andover; 1500 feet heading 200 degrees; PPL; 2 POB

The exact same mnemonic can be used for Urgency calls with the prefix 'PAN' (said 3 times). As an example, you are flying a Piper 28 call sign G-ARYI which experiences a rough running engine. You might call:

PAN PAN, PAN PAN, PAN PAN; Southampton Approach this is G-ARYI a PA-28 with a rough running engine, diverting to Thruxton airfield. Present position one mile north of Lymington, alitude 1500 feet heading 340; PPL; three POB.


Remember the ultimate difference between a Mayday and a Pan is that one is a distress call the other is an urgent situation.


Distress: The aircraft is threatened by serious and/or imminent danger and requires immediate assistance

Urgency: A condition concerning the safety of an aircraft or other vehicle, or of some person on board or in sight, but not requiring immediate attention


If you can't raise anyone on your radio use the International Aeronautical Emergency Frequency which is 121.5



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Posted by Gary Comerford at 15:00
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2 comments:

  1. Anonymous18 June 2010 at 09:21

    A bit of pedantry here but it is:

    Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan

    Ref CAP413

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gary Comerford26 June 2010 at 10:25

    If we're taking pedantry to the highest level it is actually PAN PAN, PAN PAN, PAN PAN. (Without the hyphens):)

    Ref CAP413 Chpater 8 Page 1

    Thanks for commenting

    ReplyDelete

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