Skeptic
You said
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There can be no way a pilot, qualified or not, can transmit one of these outside the basic PPL training syllabus.
Please see below:
CAP 413 (2002) 7.1
Pilots may simulate emergency incidents (BUT NOT THE STATE OF DISTRESS)on 121.50 MHz to enable them to gain experience of the ATC service provided.Before calling,pilots should listen out on the emergency frequency to ensure that no actual or practice incident is already in progress.Practice calls need not disrupt a planned flight or involve additional expense in fuel or time since the pilot can request ‘diversion ’ to his intended destination or cancel the exercise when necessary.
CAP413 8.1
"Pilots who do not wish to carry out a practice emergency but only wish to confirm their position may request a ‘Training Fix ’on 121.5 MHz.This ‘Training Fix ’is secondary in importance to actual emergency calls but takes precedence over practice emergency calls in the event of simultaneous incidents.
Please show me where your assertion is verified. No mention of PPL syllabus etc, nor of instructors.
Perhaps you should re-read your posting.