CAP 413, Manual

Page: 165 / 264

CAP 413 Radiotelephony Manual
Chapter 8 Page 3
1.4.5 If no acknowledgement of the distress or urgency message is made by the station
addressed by the aircraft, other stations shall render assistance. Due to the nature of
distress and urgency situations, the originator of messages addressed to an aircraft
in distress or urgency condition shall restrict to the minimum the number and volume
and content of such messages as required by the condition.
1.4.6 Following the initial distress or urgency message, it is permissible for pilots and
controllers to use 'MAYDAY' and 'PAN' as a callsign prefix at their discretion, where
it is judged that this would have a beneficial effect on the outcome.
1.5 Emergency Message
The emergency message shall contain the following information (time and
circumstance permitting) and, whenever possible, should be passed in the order
given:
a) 'MAYDAY/MAYDAY/MAYDAY' (or 'PAN PAN/PAN PAN/PAN PAN');
b) Name of the station addressed (when appropriate and time and circumstances
permitting);
c) Callsign;
d) Type of aircraft;
e) Nature of the emergency;
f) Intention of the person-in-command;
g) Present or last known position, flight level/altitude and heading;
h) Pilot qualifications (See Note 1), viz:
i) Student pilots (see Notes 2 and 3);
ii) No Instrument Qualification;
iii) IMC Rating;
iv) Full Instrument Rating.
i) Any other useful information e.g. endurance remaining, number of people on board
(POB), aircraft colour/markings, any survival aids.
NOTES:
1 There is no ICAO requirement to include pilot qualifications in a distress
message. However, this information should be included whenever possible
in UK emergency messages as it may help the controller to plan a course of
action best suited to the pilot’s ability.
2 Solo student pilots shall prefix the aircraft callsign with 'STUDENT', e.g.
'MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY STUDENT G-ABCD … ' to indicate their lack
of experience. (See Chapter 11, Phraseology Examples, paragraph 1.7.)
3 Although intended primarily for use by ab initio students, the prefix shall also
be used in other circumstances where, for example, the holder of a valid
licence is returning to flying practice after a significant absence and is
undergoing renewal training involving solo flight conducted as a student
under the supervision of a flight instructor.
4 POB – Total number of People on Board.
5 Emergency messages by military pilots are different and are detailed in ATM
3000 Manual of Military Air Traffic Management Section 700.
17 November 2011