Originally Posted by
Herod
During my time I had to declare "Mayday" three times. Two of those were in French airspace, going into CDG. After about three conversations in French between ATC and French aircraft, the reply to me was "XXX, say again"
Lets hope this doesn’t develop in to a slanging match between USA pilots and the rest of the world.
Mayday' originates from the French phrase 'm'aidez' which means 'help me'. It was first adopted as a distress signal for aviation in the early 1920s. The credit for its implementation goes to Frederick Stanley Mockford, a senior radio officer at London's Croydon Airport.
It is standard ICAO phraseology across the globe.
Here is how we are required to do it on this side of the pond.Textbook radio calls and everyone aware without unnecessary chatter.
Top marks to the guys on the radio.