The following is taken from the RAF Flight Information Handbook which not everyone may have access to:
PRACTICE URGENCY CALLS - UK
Para 6 - RT Procedure - Practice Urgency Calls are initiated using the following procedure.
a. The pilot should transmit:
"Practice PAN" 3 times,
"This is <Callsign>" then break transmission, and listen out for the reply from the D & D controller.
b. The D 7 D controller will respond with either:
(1) "Aircraft Callsign this is London/Scottish Centre. Your position is.......continue Practice PAN" OR
(2) "Aircraft Callsign, this is London/Scottish Centre. Your position is.......negative Practice PAN, SAROPS ON/EMERGENCY ON"
c. If a negative reply is received, change frequency and wait at least 10 mins before checking if the restriction still applies. If permission is given the pilot should broadcast
"Practice PAN" once and
"This is Aircraft Callsign" (once), then as much of the emergency message as is relevant.
Navrad
My guess is that you were given a "non-standard" negative response probably, as has been said above, because D&D were busy with an incident working another agency or on 243MHz. At least they said to you to call back!
At the end of the day, Practice Urgency Calls are at the discretion of the controller so I'm not too sure why you feel put out on this occasion!
