It looks like management are afraid to make the headlines when the spotters brigade with their hand held receivers hear their C/S and Mayday in the same sentence. I certainly would want all the help I can get when I lose half of my engines..

In most instances where you are under positive RADAR control by an En-Route facility or an Approach Control, declaring an emergency with ATC is sufficient. The only time that I could see utilizing Mayday, or PAN PAN is in extreme situations.

Whenever you declare an emergency our actions are dependant upon your needs so it is important that you tell us as soon as possible what the situation is and what assistance that you need.

To be honest the only time that I have seen Mayday used is when aircraft have been flying along VFR and have experienced an emergency situation. They broadcast the Mayday on 121.5 or 243.0 (because they don't know the local ATC frequency) and with luck there is someone nearby that can lend assistance.

Mike
NATCA FWA

How do you declare an emergency quickly and succinctly? "Mayday, mayday, mayday..."

How would you all react to a "mayday"transmission from an aircraft that is parked at the gate?

This is a much more accurate summary than the initial "PAN is only recognised in the UK" assertion.

I quite agree with those that believe you are wasting your breath uttering "PAN" in a country where English is a second language. That is a judgement call which can only be made with experience. I was not disputing that. I was pointing out that such calls will be understood in New Zealand and as Oz Expat has confirmed they will be understood both sides of the Tasman.

I get extremely pi$$ed off with pilots who use wishy-washy phrases like "we have a bit of a problem". You either have a Distress or an Urgency situation or you are just the next aircraft in the sequence.
[/Rant]

When dealing with Controllers whose English is challenged then I guess you use whatever technique you believe will get you the assistance you require.

Perhaps if you fly regularly through a particular piece of foreign airspace, you might want to ask the local pilots what phrase they use or what is the word for "emergency" in that language.

Maybe somebody could post a list here.

[Just a thought.]

Sometimes, some places, you even have to insist a bit with "Mayday".
I only ever declared Mayday but once. Military twinjet, engine fire on take off, I call "Mayday, etc etc". Response, in sleepy drawl: "Aroger, yourra takeoff time 0852, now contacta de appraoch on 119.5, bye-bye".

For immidiate danger to aircraft or occupants, requiring immediate attention and /or priority the call is MAYDAY

all the rest is PAN

Mike,

Safety demo usually done during pushback/engine start. The only information we are giving them at the point that will be useful in a ground fire is the location of exits. In the event of a fire before/during the demo they will become very clear with crew screaming from them for pax to come towards them, along with the emergency lighting .

On taxi in, crew are by the doors after they are disarmed. In the event something were to go wrong, the doors can still be quickly armed and opened. The seatbelt light is not swicthed off until engines are shutdown, therefore pax should not be up/in overhead lockers etc until after the threat of fire has all but ceased.

The problem, Cap 54, as has been pointed out already, is that in many countries "Pan" is not recognised. You therefore need, under some circumstances, to consider and make a professional judgement. It's not as black and white as you would like to have it.