6.2 Distress Call, Message & Actions in Distress

From definition to transmission: the distress call and message

Once you know that the situation is distress, RIC-21 §§6.4–6.10 tell you what to say and what to do next. Examiners love this material because the formats are fixed enough to test, and the Winnipeg lightning/ditching example is classic RIC-21 wording. Learn the skeleton so you can deliver it under stress—not as poetry, but as a clear rescue brief.

6.4 Distress signal: the spoken word MAYDAY

In radiotelephony, the spoken word for distress is MAYDAY. It should be used at the commencement of the first distress communication.

MAYDAY indicates that the person or station sending the signal is:

1. Threatened by grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance; or
2. Aware that an aircraft, ship, or other vehicle is threatened by grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance

Pronounce it clearly as the French-derived distress word used internationally (m’aider → MAYDAY)—not “emergency,” not “help,” not “PAN PAN.” Wrong signal words cost seconds and confuse priority.

Authority

The distress call shall be sent only on the authority of the person in command of the station (RIC-21 §6.7). That protects against unauthorized or false distress and keeps command authority clear in multi-crew cockpits and busy ground stations.

6.7 Distress call structure

The distress call identifies the station in distress. It should comprise:

1. The distress signal MAYDAY spoken three times
2. The words THIS IS
3. The call sign of the aircraft in distress spoken three times

Official-style example (RIC-21)

MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY
THIS IS
PIPER FOXTROT X-RAY CHARLIE CHARLIE
PIPER FOXTROT X-RAY CHARLIE CHARLIE
PIPER FOXTROT X-RAY CHARLIE CHARLIE

Critical rules that differ from normal calling

Because the call is not addressed to one station, every station on frequency is put on notice. Because acknowledgment must wait until after the message, do not interrupt with “RECEIVED MAYDAY” until the distress station has had a chance to send position and nature of distress (unless the station never manages a message and other rules for unacknowledged distress apply—next section).

6.8 Distress message elements (in order)

The distress message shall follow the distress call as soon as possible. Include as many as possible of the following elements, spoken distinctly and, if possible, in this order:

1. The distress signal MAYDAY
2. The call sign of the station in distress (once)
3. The nature of the distress condition and kind of assistance required (what has happened)
4. The intentions of the person in command
5. The particulars of its position (including airspeed, altitude, heading as applicable)
6. The number of persons on board and injuries (if applicable)
7. Any other information that may facilitate rescue
8. The call sign of the station in distress (again)

RIC-21 worked example (lightning / ditching near Winnipeg)

MAYDAY
PIPER FOXTROT X-RAY QUEBEC QUEBEC
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING
DITCHING AIRCRAFT
POSITION: 20 MILES EAST OF WINNIPEG
ALTITUDE: 1500 FEET
AIRSPEED: 125 KNOTS
HEADING: 270 DEGREES
ONE PERSON ON BOARD
PIPER FOXTROT X-RAY QUEBEC QUEBEC

Map the example to the list:

Note: omitting items 1 and 2 when continuous

RIC-21 note: if the aircraft can transmit the distress message immediately after the distress call, then items 1 and 2 (MAYDAY and call sign once) may be omitted from the message. Why? The call already said MAYDAY ×3 and the call sign ×3. Repeating them again is optional continuity polish when you are already rolling straight into “struck by lightning…”. If there is any gap, restart cleanly with the full message elements.

What “as many as possible” means under pressure

If you only get out position and “ditching,” you still helped. If you forget injuries but give POB, rescuers still size the response. Do not stall into silence while composing a perfect eight-line speech. Transmit what you have, then fill gaps on the next cycle.

6.9 Repetition of a distress message

The distress message shall be repeated at intervals by the aircraft in distress until:

• An answer is received, or
• It is no longer feasible to continue

Intervals between repetitions must be long enough for receiving stations to reply. Do not key continuous monologue that blocks acknowledgments.

Duty of stations hearing an unacknowledged distress message

Any station that has heard an unacknowledged distress message and is not in a position to render assistance shall:

• Take all possible steps to attract the attention of other stations that can assist
• Take all necessary steps to notify the appropriate search and rescue authorities

You are not allowed to shrug and change frequency because “someone else must have heard it.” If the MAYDAY goes unanswered, the system depends on bystanders to relay, attract attention, and notify SAR.

6.10 Action by the station in distress

When the aircraft is threatened by grave and imminent danger and needs immediate assistance, the person in command should direct:

1. Transmit the distress call
2. Transmit the distress message
3. Listen for acknowledgment of receipt
4. Exchange further distress traffic as applicable
5. Activate automatic emergency equipment (for example, an emergency locator transmitter (ELT)) if available and when appropriate

ELT note for ROC-A level

RIC-21 lists ELT activation as step 5 of actions in distress—when appropriate. Typical judgment: activate when the aircraft is going down, has crashed, or is otherwise in a situation where a beacon will help SAR find you; do not create false ELT alerts during a non-beacon situation, and if an ELT fires accidentally, silence it and notify authorities (false alerts divert SAR). Detailed ELT frequency technology (406 MHz satellite vs 121.5 homing) appears elsewhere in the exam bank; for this procedure section, remember ELT is part of the official distress action list.

Putting call + message + actions together (full sequence drill)

Phase A — Call (not addressed; no early ack):

MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY
THIS IS
CESSNA FOXTROT NOVEMBER JULIETT INDIA
CESSNA FOXTROT NOVEMBER JULIETT INDIA
CESSNA FOXTROT NOVEMBER JULIETT INDIA

Phase B — Message immediately after (items 1–2 may be omitted):

ENGINE FAILURE
FORCED LANDING IN FIELD
POSITION: 15 MILES NORTH OF BRANDON
ALTITUDE: 2000 FEET
AIRSPEED: 80 KNOTS
HEADING: 360 DEGREES
TWO PERSONS ON BOARD
NO INJURIES AT THIS TIME
CESSNA FOXTROT NOVEMBER JULIETT INDIA

Phase C — Listen for acknowledgment, exchange traffic, activate ELT if appropriate.

Phase D — Repeat at sensible intervals until answered or no longer feasible.

Common exam and practical traps

Trap 1 — Addressing the distress call to “Winnipeg Tower only.” The distress call is not addressed to a particular station.

Trap 2 — Waiting for “go ahead” before the message. Do not require a normal reply cycle before sending the distress message; ack comes after the message path is available under §6.14 forms.

Trap 3 — MAYDAY once in the call. The call uses MAYDAY three times and call sign three times.

Trap 4 — Scrambling the message order. Nature and intentions before (or with) position data; include airspeed/altitude/heading when you can; end with call sign.

Trap 5 — Stopping after one unheard transmission. Repeat until answered or no longer feasible; listeners who cannot help must still try to raise those who can and notify SAR.

Trap 6 — Forgetting ELT. Step 5 of actions in distress is activate automatic emergency equipment when appropriate.

Memorization method

Write the eight message elements on a card and practice the Winnipeg example until you can recite it without the card. Then invent two new scenarios (engine fire inland; ditching on a lake) and force the same order. Speak them into a quiet room as if the mic is live. The ROC-A practical often rewards exactly this kind of spoken discipline.