Distress & Urgency Builder
Choose MAYDAY or PAN PAN, then build the call in the right order
Build your call. Tap the phrases in the right order.
Quick reference
| MAYDAY | Distress: grave and imminent danger, immediate help needed. Said three times. |
|---|---|
| PAN PAN | Urgency: concern for the safety of the aircraft or someone on board, but not grave and imminent danger. Said three times (PAHN-PAHN). |
| Order of a distress message | MAYDAY x3, station addressed, aircraft callsign, nature of the emergency, intentions, position, level, heading, other useful information. |
| Impose silence | STOP TRANSMITTING, MAYDAY |
| Finished | DISTRESS TRAFFIC ENDED |
| Frequency | Use the frequency you are on. If you have no contact, call on 121.5 MHz. |
| Squawk | 7700 emergency, 7600 radio failure, 7500 unlawful interference |
After the call
- Fly the aircraft first: aviate, navigate, then communicate.
- Set the transponder to 7700 if you have not been told otherwise.
- Keep transmitting until the call is acknowledged. Repeat on 121.5 if you have no answer.
- Update ATC if the situation changes, and follow their instructions if you can.
- Other stations keep off the frequency, unless they can help.
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Practise the questions
Distress, Urgency & Safety16 questionsRevise with flashcards
Distress, Urgency & Safety7 cardsMore Radio Telephony simulators
Radio Failure ProceduresLifetimeMessage PriorityLifetimeQ-Code DrillLifetimePhonetics & Numbers TrainerLifetimeWhat to try
- Decide whether each situation is distress (MAYDAY) or urgency (PAN PAN).
- Tap the phrases in order to build the call, then see which places were wrong.
- Read the quick reference for silence, ending distress traffic and the emergency frequency.
Exam point
MAYDAY or PAN PAN is said three times, then: station addressed, callsign, nature of the emergency, intentions, position, level, heading and other useful information.
Study aid only. Figures here are simplified and fictional, so always use current DGCA and ICAO documents and the approved manual for real operations.