CyberAirVA

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Emergency Procedures

The term Mayday is an internationally known signal that conveys an emergency. But how to use it and when?
When you as the pilot encounters an emergency or other problem the first thing you have to do is to try to fix it. With this I mean that if the aircraft is stalling you first have to recover from the stall. If this is done or the situations allows it you should then alert the air traffic control system and other pilots about the problem, this can be done in a couple of ways:

Mayday
The pilot in command has the option and the responsibility to alert other planes and air traffic controllers if he can of any emergency he has. The term "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY" is should be repeated three times. This term implies that the aircraft is under an urgent crisis and need help. Using this term will open up the skies for you.

Pan
"PAN, PAN, PAN" is not as urgent as mayday but it should be used if a problem might arise shortly. Urgency messages have priority over all communications except distress. Surely all possible authority to recognize and respond to crises is entrusted to you, and your responsibility to request assistance in the process is evident. You should use this when one of the following conditions exists or might arise shortly:
An aircraft is in at least an urgent condition the moment the pilot becomes doubtful about position, fuel en-durance, weather or any other conditions that could adversely affect flight safety.
Pilots who become apprehensive for their safety for any reason should request assistance immediately.

You could also use "I'm declaring an emergency". Anything that conveys the message that you are in trouble counts. Don't hesitate to let people know. You are given all this authority to ensure that you and your passengers remain alive, and in an urgent or distress situation, the entire system is placed at your disposal to offer you all possible assistance. But before you can get the help, you have to ask for it in language that cannot be misunderstood. Don't forget to turn your transponder to 7700, which will sound an alert in the control center. If you can you should include the following in your radio message:

(a) If distress, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAY-DAY; if urgency, PAN, PAN, PAN.
(b) Name of station addressed.
(c) Aircraft identification and type.
(d) Nature of distress or urgency.
(e) Weather.
(f) Pilots intentions and request.
(g) Present position, and heading; or if lost, last known position, time, and heading since that position.
(h) Altitude or flight level.
(i) Fuel remaining in minutes.
(j) Number of people on board.
(k) Any other useful information.

There exists countless examples of aircrafts not conveying their problems to others.

For example an Avianca aircraft was on it's way to JFK, it had encountered some bad weather on it's way and therefore was quite low on fuel. After having done on failed approach the aircraft was going to make another attempt. During the whole period until it crashed the pilot never once stated that he had an urgency situation (PAN) or an urgent condition (MAYDAY), the captain simply stated that he was low on fuel. Ironically if you listen to the tape, when the captain tells the ATC that he had lost two engines he gets a right turn to intercept the localizer, within a second. Unfortunately it was to late.

The ATC can't help you if you don't let them know there is a problem.

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