MAYDAY MAYDAY require advice on the use of the word MAYDAY!

[Gazeem]

Hi

I passed my R/T practical last week.

However, a point was raised about MAYDAY calls.

I made my initial call as per CAP 413 but in any subsequent call I was continually stepped on by the controller(examiner) until I figured out to prefix my callsign with the word MAYDAY.

eg. G-ABCD can I..? would result in being told to stay off frequency

whereas


MAYDAY G-ABCD can I ? would reslt in a response.

This is not detailed in CAP 413.

I was wondering if any high time pilots or controllers could comment on this?

Is it just good practice or unneccesary chat?

Gaz

Edited for spelling

[This message has been edited by Gazeem (edited 21 April 2001).]