Distress Messages

Question 1

What is a distress message?

Answer 1

When an aircraft or passengers are threatened by a serious and/or imminent danger and require immediate assistance

Question 2

What should a distress message consist of?

Answer 2

• “Mayday” repeated three times
• The name of the station being addressed
• Identification of the aircraft
• The nature of the distress condition

Question 3

Give an example of a distress message

Answer 3

• Mayday, Mayday, Mayday
• South End Radar
• Golf Oscar Papa Alpha Mike (GOPAM)
• Engine failure, landing on field, overhead Northampton, tracking NW

Question 4

What frequency should distress messages be called on?

Answer 4

Mayday should be used on the frequency in use at the time.

121.5 MHz should only be used if aeronautical station is not responding or in use.

Question 5

How should a radio station reply to a distress call?

Answer 5

They should acknowledge the distress call and do something about it- either them going into emergency mode or contacting ATS and the relative parties to follow emergency or distress.

They should also warm other stations about the distress to prevent traffic on the frequency used with the distress call.

Question 6

What is “Imposition of Silence”?

Answer 6

When a station imposes silence on all stations in the area or any station which might interfere with distress call