If you were really off track and this happened to you in Australia:
- You would be given priority regardless of whether you had declared an emegency, however the words PAN or MAYDAY do tend to grab everyone's attention;
- after a quick chat you would be processed by the safest approach and if we could we would get your club or school CFI on the phone;
- you would be subject to a alert or distress phase and the Australian SAR service would be alerted:
- yes, the big jet pilots would get to hold while we sorted your problem out, however they have probably been there and done that and normally seem very tolerant;
- my employer charges for our sevices so you would cop a charge from us and from the airport owner;
- we are obliged by legislation to submit an incident report;
- this goes electronically to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority;
- the former may investigate and make recommendations, the latter may also investigate and has the option to take action under the Civil Aviation Regulations;
- you have the option to buy copious amounts of alcohol for the controllers;
- in other words, assuming you survive, this could be a nightmare so don't press on, stay in VMC!