Declaring a MAYDAY
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Australia
Posts: 811
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Declaring a MAYDAY
Survey question for both pilots and ATCOs...
When declaring a MAYDAY on a TWR frequency, given the time pressures likely to be involved with the situation, would you say (and do you want to hear) the callsign 3 times? e.g. Engine fire airbourne and you're "Qantas seven, seventy-seven".
When declaring a MAYDAY on a TWR frequency, given the time pressures likely to be involved with the situation, would you say (and do you want to hear) the callsign 3 times? e.g. Engine fire airbourne and you're "Qantas seven, seventy-seven".
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Down a dark hole
Posts: 301
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Survey question for both pilots and ATCOs...
When declaring a MAYDAY on a TWR frequency, given the time pressures likely to be involved with the situation, would you say (and do you want to hear) the callsign 3 times? e.g. Engine fire airbourne and you're "Qantas seven, seventy-seven".
When declaring a MAYDAY on a TWR frequency, given the time pressures likely to be involved with the situation, would you say (and do you want to hear) the callsign 3 times? e.g. Engine fire airbourne and you're "Qantas seven, seventy-seven".
R
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Awstraya
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have had to do this - major loss of power in a busyish circuit - (but not a QF crate, tho' !). Glide distance at time of failure was marginal. Called MAYDAY x 3 (to get their attention ) and callsign x 1 (I was in the circuit, they know I'm there), position (late downwind) and problem. I got immediate clearance to land anywhere and other traffic was held clear. This only took a couple of seconds - while at the same time I was able to trade some speed for height and set up for best glide, run the memory checks and then turn the switches and fuel off. No further comms were necessary. Made it in (just) but unable to taxi off runway completely....
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Sydney (Blue Mountains)
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
MAYDAY Calls
Some years ago whilst in the TWR @ YSRI a fishspotter had an engine failure , He called as per the book.
Mayday 3 times - A/C 3 times - problem once - POB - had an instant clearance and landed, Boy that 3 engine landing was unreal.
The fact that most of their time is spent on 3 donks had nothing to do with the problem in the circuit. they make the rules for a good reason.
Kickatinalong.
Mayday 3 times - A/C 3 times - problem once - POB - had an instant clearance and landed, Boy that 3 engine landing was unreal.
The fact that most of their time is spent on 3 donks had nothing to do with the problem in the circuit. they make the rules for a good reason.
Kickatinalong.
Off topic....
Or the story of the F16, asked to go as number two on the approach behind a B52 with an engine out!
"Ah, the dreaded 7 engine approach" replied the F16 pilot!
Yeah, I know. But it makes me laugh!
Or the story of the F16, asked to go as number two on the approach behind a B52 with an engine out!
"Ah, the dreaded 7 engine approach" replied the F16 pilot!
Yeah, I know. But it makes me laugh!
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Oz
Age: 68
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would recommend you say the callsign again at the end of your transmission. It's easy for it to be forgotten in the excitement of the moment because the controller is concentrating on the message and what he/she has to do.
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Orstralia
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Heard a Mayday while flying once, and did some com relay for him. Was so disconcerted by hearing the callsign 3 times (hadn't previously heard of the concept) that I had forgotten it by the end of the call... Upon reflection since, if I have time to send a mayday I have time to say my callsign thrice.
A single times callsign can be difficult to hear the first time round. My record on hearing callsigns cold is not outstanding even with routine traffic.
Have heard ATC colleagues on multiple occasions bark out something like, "I GOT A MAYDAY HERE, oh fark I missed the callsign..." Because they were shouting thru it. Three times would have avoided that.
A bit problem with ATC comms is the controller you are talking to may have earless twats droning coordination over the top of your signal. He/she is supposed to stop talking when either of our radios is activated, let alone for an urgent, but it is a courtesy some are immune to. To be fair I have encountered twice a situation where a fault on my console means the other controller can't hear my air/ground program so doesn't stop warbling as he should. I had to apologise both times for calling them earless twats.
I don't work the tower, but expect all these things would apply there, especially if you are airborne & presumed to be with Departures and more or less forgotten about.
A single times callsign can be difficult to hear the first time round. My record on hearing callsigns cold is not outstanding even with routine traffic.
Have heard ATC colleagues on multiple occasions bark out something like, "I GOT A MAYDAY HERE, oh fark I missed the callsign..." Because they were shouting thru it. Three times would have avoided that.
A bit problem with ATC comms is the controller you are talking to may have earless twats droning coordination over the top of your signal. He/she is supposed to stop talking when either of our radios is activated, let alone for an urgent, but it is a courtesy some are immune to. To be fair I have encountered twice a situation where a fault on my console means the other controller can't hear my air/ground program so doesn't stop warbling as he should. I had to apologise both times for calling them earless twats.
I don't work the tower, but expect all these things would apply there, especially if you are airborne & presumed to be with Departures and more or less forgotten about.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NZ
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It works...
Yesterday while in the Kaipara Harbour, I heard my first PAN-PAN call on frequency 119.1. The pilot followed the correct radio call procedure, and boy did it get my attention! Fortunately everyone else moved out of his way and he made a safe landing at Springhill.
Had the pilot got too excited or rushed, I would not have been able to write down the crutial information.
Well done to all parties concerned.
ECT?
Had the pilot got too excited or rushed, I would not have been able to write down the crutial information.
Well done to all parties concerned.
ECT?
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,158
Received 3,009 Likes
on
1,274 Posts
If you want to hear something that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck, I would recommend you listen to this real Mayday..........
http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photoga...ightassist.mp3
http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photoga...ightassist.mp3
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,186
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In Europe, MayDay is commonly used for the slightest problem as Pan is either not recognised, not understood and not acted upon. So a May day is reduced to an attention-getter rather than it's original meaning.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Mel-burn
Posts: 4,875
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I recently heard a May-Day call. GFPT student on first Solo Nav in C152. He did everything by the book (as far as the call goes) and said his engine was surging from low to high revs and he was unable to maintain height. Controller replied with "try carby heat" then proceeded to direct a more "important" Qantas aircraft to change to the approach frequency and said nothing more. Poor guy headed back to his CTAF channel to get help from someone else. I was a little disappointed with ATC; seems that they categorised the mayday as a non-event at the time. After a minute I instructed him to apply carby heat for a prolonged period (as you should if you have ice) and this resolved the problem. It's interesting how things happen that could quickly turn for the worse.
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Australandnewzealandland
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've never heard a mayday before (or a pan-pan for that matter either) but here in NZ were taught (and confirmed in Title 4-2 Vol. 4) to only say the callsign once. Looking at it here it says to say mayday 3x, name of station addressed then your callsign bla bla bla.
of course, you can say the callsign as many times as you like. conversly, you may only have enough time to say mayday
i think its not really nessicary to say your callsign three times; the letters painted on the side of the aircraft do not matter as much as the position of the aircraft, then perhaps intentions, then maybe the nature of the emergency.
of course, you can say the callsign as many times as you like. conversly, you may only have enough time to say mayday
i think its not really nessicary to say your callsign three times; the letters painted on the side of the aircraft do not matter as much as the position of the aircraft, then perhaps intentions, then maybe the nature of the emergency.
