ATC-watcher, in the end, the pilot is on top of the food chain. Not ATC. If the pilot thinks he must descend, he will. With or without a mayday. Within or outside of controlled airspace.
Now the paperwork afterwards might be interesting if the pilot violated his 'privileges', but please don't forget it is the pilot that is served by ATC and not the other way around!
Last edited by PENKO; 17th Sep 2013 at 11:48.