055166k and HEATHROW DIRECTOR thanks for your replies. Very interesting points. I am a LGW based pilot in a heavy twin so if after TKOF I lost an engine are you saying that local procedures re hospitals/emergency services would be the same if I called PAN or MAYDAY? Also in the past I would have only called MAYDAY if I had a engine fire and if it went out I would downgrade to a PAN are you saying that this is incorrect and would not make any difference anyway?
Jerricho and Barnaby sorry i didn\'t read your posts because I was trying to sift through the BS but I\'ve now just gone back to them. Now I haven\'t had a EFATO for real before but I don\'t see them as life threatning in a modern airliner which is why I\'ve always shyed away from a MAYDAY unless my butt is on fire! I was always under the impression when an A/C says mayday all kinds of stuff happens eg all hospital doctors are paged in, local hospitals start freeing up beds which is why I (would) have only said MD if i thought we were really are in trouble. Just interseted what the controllers think and then I may change my thinking. PS hopefully going to make a TRUCE day soon at WD.