Originally Posted by
parkfell
If a MAYDAY is declared by an airliner, will ATC automatically alert the external services to attend the airfield, or is it dependant upon the nature of the emergency.
If the emergency is then downgraded graded to a PAN, can the external services be cancelled and return to their bases before arriving at the airfield. If the external services cannot be cancelled en route, is there any point downgrading the MAYDAY to PAN status.
One call goes to RCC, normally through the ACC... RCC will have a lot of work to do gathering information, and finding assets in the vicinity for SAR usage etc., but that's often a side ATCO's or pilots rarely see (until a figther slips in beside the airliner to follow him, or helicopter after the C182), RCC may also, depending on the situation, wait and see (there's normally no need for them if the aircraft reaches a runway, and is within reach of the local units)
But RCC operations is a different animal all together, used to be there for a decade, and we were allowed to spend gonverment money (a lot if required) and send out the units we deem necessary.