Urgency Call: PAN or PANPAN

[posi+iveLanding]

Hello

Can somebody clarify, for urgency call do we say PAN or PANPAN?
I always think in that situation we use PAN-PAN-PAN to attract attention instead of PANPAN-PANPAN-PANPAN.

Thanks for reply.
Post

[Blip]

A quote from the Australian Civil Aviation Regulations...


Distress signals
(1) The distress signal shall be transmitted only when the aircraft is
threatened with grave and immediate danger and requires immediate
assistance.
(2) In radio telegraphy, the distress signal shall take the form of SOS
(... – – – ...), sent 3 times, followed by the group DE, sent once, and
the call sign of the aircraft, sent 3 times.
(3) The signal specified in subregulation (2) may be followed by the
automatic alarm signal which consists of a series of 12 dashes, sent in
one minute, the duration of each dash being 4 seconds, and the
duration of the interval between consecutive dashes being one second.
(4) In radiotelephony, the distress signal shall take the form of the word
“MAYDAY”, pronounced 3 times, followed by the words “THIS IS”,
followed by the call sign of the aircraft 3 times.
(5) By other means the distress signal shall take one or more of the
following forms:
(a) the Morse signal ... – – – ... with visual apparatus or with sound
apparatus;
(b) a succession of pyrotechnical lights, fired at short intervals, each
showing a single red light;
(c) the two-flag signal corresponding to the letters NC of the
International Code of Signals;
(d) the distant signal, consisting of a square flag having, either above
or below, a ball or anything resembling a ball;
(e) a parachute flare showing a red light;
(f) a gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals of approximately
one minute.

Urgency signals
(1) The following signals, used either together or separately, shall be used
by an aircraft for the purpose of giving notice of difficulties which
compel it to land without requiring immediate assistance:
(a) the repeated switching on and off of the landing lights;
(b) the repeated switching on and off of the navigation lights, in such
a manner as to be distinctive from the flashing lights described in
subregulation 196 (2);
(c) a succession of white pyrotechnical lights.
(2) The following signals, used either together or separately, shall be used
by an aircraft for the purpose of giving notice that the aircraft has a
very urgent message to transmit concerning the safety of a ship,
aircraft or vehicle, or of some person on board or within sight:
(a) in radiotelegraphy, 3 repetitions of the group XXX
(– .. – – .. – – ..–), sent with the letters of each group, and the
successive groups clearly separated from each other, and sent
before the transmission of the message;
(b) in radiotelephony, 3 repetitions of the words PAN, PAN, sent
before the transmission of the message;
(c) a succession of green pyrotechnical lights;
(d) a succession of green flashes with signal apparatus.


Safety signal
(1) The safety signal shall be transmitted when an aircraft wishes to
transmit a message concerning the safety of navigation or to give
important meteorological warnings.
(2) The safety signal shall be sent before the call and:
(a) in the case of radiotelegraphy shall consist of 3 repetitions of the
group TTT (– – –), sent with the letters of each group and the
successive groups clearly separated from each other; and
(b) in the case of radiotelephony shall consist of the word
“SECURITY”, repeated 3 times.

[Blip]

So just to confirm you do say "PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN..."

It does sound a bit over the top when you say it during a simulator exercise, but it's what they want.

Oh and i found a reference on my computer's dictionary!

pan-pan |pan pan|

noun
an international radio distress signal, of less urgency than a mayday signal.

ORIGIN 1920s: pan from French panne ‘breakdown.’


And this...

Mayday |ˈmāˌdā| (also mayday)

exclamation
an international radio distress signal used by ships and aircraft.

noun
a distress signal using the word “Mayday” : we sent out a Mayday | [as adj. ] a Mayday call.

ORIGIN 1920s: representing a pronunciation of French m'aider, from venez m'aider ‘come and help me.’

[Mach E Avelli]

Blip, thanks. I knew where mayday came from but pan was always a mystery. And yes, it does sound bloody silly in the sim but in real life I guess you would be excited enough to say it as often as you needed to without feeling like an actor in a bad movie .

[5milesbaby]

And how I wish they would change it to you giving us (ATC) a call saying you have a problem and you'd like to declare a PAN (as so many do these days, or get prompted by us to do it but without the PANPAN PANPAN PANPAN call)

[Centaurus]

I understand that in Europe an engine failure is traditionally a Mayday call despite the aircraft not being in immediate danger. This is because some ATC do not recognise a Pan call. Typical excitable Europeans I guess - you only have to watch their hugging and kissing antics on the soccer field - probably copied after seeing the Australian cricketers on TV with their jumping and dancing into each others arms in a cricket mosh pit

[Slasher]

When and wether to use a Mayday or Pan call, a mate once told me
to remember this -

PAN - When you're in big trouble but don't anticipate being killed dead

MAYDAY - When you're in big trouble and it looks like you ARE gonna die

Lived by that since.

[5milesbaby]

Centaurus - NATS UK ATC teach that 50% power loss or more is a MAYDAY, anything less then just a PAN unless a MAYDAY is declared anyway from the cockpit. Our aerodromes have their own emergency catergories and therefore even if you call a PAN with engine shutdown on a 2 engined jet, expect the whole county's emergency services waiting when you land.

[WHBM]

So why in a practice do we say "Practice Pan" x3 instead of "Practice Pan Pan" x3 ?

[Sid Departure]

So why in a practice do we say "Practice Pan" x3 instead of "Practice Pan Pan" x3 ?

Best ask your company instructors. I've always taught PAN PAN x3.

If you're not sure which call to give, declare a Mayday. You can always downgrade to a PAN later.

[airman13]

Correctly is PANPAN spoken 3 times.(also for MAYDAY)

[surf bum]

Urgency Phraseology

I learn something every day.

When I did my RT licence and ATCO training (many years ago)

the phaseology was "PAN PAN PAN (Station Called) this is (Callsign) PAN PAN PAN"

The phaseology from CAP413 (Radio Telephony Manual is:

1.2

States of Emergency

1.2.1 The states of emergency are classified as follows:
a)

Distress A condition of being threatened by serious and/or imminent danger and
of requiring immediate assistance.
b) Urgency A condition concerning the safety of an aircraft or other vehicle, or of
some person on board or within sight, but does not require immediate assistance.
1.2.2 The pilot should make the appropriate emergency call as follows:
a) Distress ‘MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY’

b) Urgency ‘PAN PAN, PAN PAN, PAN PAN’

I guess I'll have to change my flight board!!

Surfs as flat as a disk

Surf Bum

[beamer]

Total waste of time around most of the world - if in doubt call Mayday and downgrade later !