Mayday call from a military aircraft
Military or civil it's just call sign declaring an emergency.
Pilots 'trained' at Florida PPL puppy farms often have great difficulty in adopting simple CAP413 terminology when they return to the UK.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
I've never done or heard of anyone declare a practice emergency.
Does anyone else have the equivalent of the D&D Cell?
ATC tends to understand, and sympathise, with a case of 'fat finger'.
Heard many decades ago on Approach from a flamed-out MB326H (which had both the transmit and relight buttons on the throttle): "Light, ya f#%>er! Light, ya f#%>er! Light, ya f#%>er!"
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Australia OZ
Age: 75
Posts: 2,586
Likes: 0
Received 53 Likes
on
46 Posts
I was blessed by the Gnome engine in my Whirlwind deciding to dismantle itself whilst I was low level in Shropshire. With my left hand pulling levers, switches and pressing fire buttons and my right hand on the transmit button whilst I pushed out a Mayday and searching for a convenient field to dead stick into air traffic at Tern Hill replied with 'Your steer is 305 degrees."
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Hampshire
Age: 78
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I recall back in early 80s,we were taking a party of high fliers to the inaugural opening of the new Nigerian AirForce base at Makurdi.Having discussions enroute as to exactly where this was and a possible bearing off the "LG" VOR.Finding the correct viaduct on the River Bennue(From a faded memory) we duly arrived some hours before the Ceremony,and settled down to our KP Peanuts and brewed Lyons Tea,and awaited the MIG 21 Flypast.In front of us was a Private HS125(Ex Green Shield Stamps 600 Series,that normally only flew to Port Harcourt and back) run by an Ex Sqn Ldr Bob Blxxxxxxxxh.During the course of the Same Day Same Direction MIG 21 Four Ship,a voice on the RT was heard to call"Tiger 4 Tiger4 Tiger 4 You are on Fire
Eject Eject Eject GO!!!!!
No Kidding, this actually happened and another Mig 21 Tail ended up in the bush.In the ensuing confusion we were able to call ATC for start and taxi a bit quick,and duly launched successfully,after our "Big Oggas" emabarked just as quickly.Bob B also managed to leave, and later back in Lagos in the GRA Crew Room,much discussion was had as to "Who" and "What accent" had called the Emergency.Many stories were related later regarding this,but no one ever admitted any one responsible or whether said Jet did have a problem.,apochraphal or otherwise!!
Eject Eject Eject GO!!!!!No Kidding, this actually happened and another Mig 21 Tail ended up in the bush.In the ensuing confusion we were able to call ATC for start and taxi a bit quick,and duly launched successfully,after our "Big Oggas" emabarked just as quickly.Bob B also managed to leave, and later back in Lagos in the GRA Crew Room,much discussion was had as to "Who" and "What accent" had called the Emergency.Many stories were related later regarding this,but no one ever admitted any one responsible or whether said Jet did have a problem.,apochraphal or otherwise!!
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
There was the occasion back in the 60/70s when, allegedly, the call was made on Guard, "Red 4 you're on fire, eject!"; followed by the ejection of the burning Red 4 - along with the pilot on another perfectly serviceable Red 4 elsewhere.
Allegedly it was this that led to the AP detailing the specified callsigns that were to be used per squadron.
Allegedly it was this that led to the AP detailing the specified callsigns that were to be used per squadron.
Haihio,
Sea Harrier shot down over Bosnia during 1994. Mayday at 1:36. Sounds like the wingman relaying the Mayday.
F-117 shot down over Yugoslavia during 1999. Mayday at 2:50.
Sea Harrier shot down over Bosnia during 1994. Mayday at 1:36. Sounds like the wingman relaying the Mayday.
F-117 shot down over Yugoslavia during 1999. Mayday at 2:50.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,576
Received 425 Likes
on
224 Posts
There was the occasion back in the 60/70s when, allegedly, the call was made on Guard, "Red 4 you're on fire, eject!"; followed by the ejection of the burning Red 4 - along with the pilot on another perfectly serviceable Red 4 elsewhere.
Allegedly it was this that led to the AP detailing the specified callsigns that were to be used per squadron.
Allegedly it was this that led to the AP detailing the specified callsigns that were to be used per squadron.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Well, Lincolnshire
Age: 69
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Many years ago, in a Control Tower in North Yorkshire (very familiar to Danny42C), the oldest Pilot Officer in the ATC Branch was sat on Zone. He was bored, very bored. No traffic to speak to, a very quiet day.
The ATC Supervisor, a gentleman of mature years (and zero sense of humour), was sat at the Supervisors 2ft square desk, with his fountain pen in hand and bottle of Quink ink at the ready, writing the days lies into the Approach Room Log Book.
Our hero, still bored on Zone, with a twinkle in his eye, starts chatting to imaginary aircraft. In the middle of his chatter, he, in a very authoritative tone, orders "MAYDAY, WAIT".
Everything flew that day, the Supervisors table. the chair, the Logbook, the pen and the bottle of Quink.
It was the first time I saw a Pilot Officer being led out of an Approach Room, by his ear, being held by an inky hand.
Oh, how we laughed.
The ATC Supervisor, a gentleman of mature years (and zero sense of humour), was sat at the Supervisors 2ft square desk, with his fountain pen in hand and bottle of Quink ink at the ready, writing the days lies into the Approach Room Log Book.
Our hero, still bored on Zone, with a twinkle in his eye, starts chatting to imaginary aircraft. In the middle of his chatter, he, in a very authoritative tone, orders "MAYDAY, WAIT".
Everything flew that day, the Supervisors table. the chair, the Logbook, the pen and the bottle of Quink.
It was the first time I saw a Pilot Officer being led out of an Approach Room, by his ear, being held by an inky hand.
Oh, how we laughed.
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Starring at an Airfield Near you
Posts: 371
Received 15 Likes
on
7 Posts
I thought the line was: "Aircraft calling Mayday, wait - MATZ crosser go ahead with your details....." 
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
I thought the line was: "Aircraft calling Mayday, wait - MATZ crosser go ahead with your details.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,576
Received 425 Likes
on
224 Posts
At the location of the school of military ATC Excellence in Shropshire, I was flying my first night circuit in a Wessex and for a change had been briefed that there would be no practice emergencies (a bit of a novelty on the Wessex course). However, as I turned downwind, the amber flashers and a hydraulics caption came on. The pressure dropped to zero. My instructor immediately confirmed it was a real failure. I carried out the immediate actions then put out a "PAN" call, stating I had hydraulics failure and required a running landing on the main runway (rather than using the "T" on the grass alongside. The tower controller told me to wait because he already had another aircraft returning to the circuit with a simulated single engine failure!
My instructor then transmitted "We didn't say it was a practice hydraulics failure!"
ATC: "Ooer....cleared to land on the runway!"
My instructor then transmitted "We didn't say it was a practice hydraulics failure!"
ATC: "Ooer....cleared to land on the runway!"
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
Age: 79
Posts: 7,812
Received 137 Likes
on
64 Posts
That's what you get when the ATC School Instructors also do Live Tower 
Although possibly not at night ... that would have been the genuine Tower Team, covering the MEDA aspect as well.
Although possibly not at night ... that would have been the genuine Tower Team, covering the MEDA aspect as well.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Australia OZ
Age: 75
Posts: 2,586
Likes: 0
Received 53 Likes
on
46 Posts
My favourite not me PanPanPan was a fellow student getting frazzled in the Pearce very crowded circuit one day, during our early Vampire solos in same. He left circuit to rejoin via break (recommended procedure) he sent out his PAN call because of severe aircraft vibrations as he continued inbound from initial. Advice was to slow the aircraft - raise the gear. All good.