MayDay: When and how to Declare Airborne Emergencies

Written By Brenna Allard

Most of us aviators’ will fly for an entire career and never have to declare an EMERGENCY. That is the good news; but when we do declare we must know the rules and the procedures. 

The 14 CFR Federal Aviation Regulations and the Aeronautical Information Manual; both give good guidance and are specific about our responsibilities as a pilot in command (PIC). 

There are many reasons to declare an emergency, according to the FAA, these are  just a few:

There are many reasons to declare an emergency, according to the FAA, these are just a few:

  • Air Piracy (AIM 6-3-2)

  • Airborne Aircraft Inspection (AIM 7-5-10): Assisting another aircraft in flight

  • Ditching (AIM 6-3-3): Procedures to follow

  • Systems Failures

  • Medical Emergencies

  • Two way communication failure (FAR 91.185)

 

PIC Responsibilities:

  • Authority of PIC (FAR 91.3): An inflight emergency requiring immediate   action, the PIC may deviate from the flight rules to meet that emergency.     

  • Compliance with ATC clearances (FAR 91.123): No PIC may deviate from a clearance unless an emergency exists.

  • Continuation of flight (FAR 135.69): If the PIC deems an airport is unsafe, may continue toward that airport if an emergency exists, while in flight.

 

The procedures for declaring an emergency are stated in the AIM Chapter 6, some of the important information in this section are:

  • Pilot Responsibility and Authority: AIM 6-1-1 In an emergency requiring immediate action the PIC may deviate from any rule in 14 CFR Part 91. Must notify ATC as soon as possible. 

  • An emergency can either be a DISTRESS or URGENT communication: Either of these stated emergencies have absolute priority over all other communications.

  • DISTRESS: MAYDAY Stated 3x 

  • URGENT: PAN-PAN Stated 3x

After declaration, use the following procedures (not necessarily in this order):

  • Transponder squawk code 7700, or 7600 radio failure

  • Climb immediately if not sure of your altitude being safe

  • Transmit PAN-PAN or MAYDAY-MAYDAY

  • Give A/C identification of flight number

  • Nature of emergency

  • Weather conditions

  • PIC’s intentions and/or requests

  • Present position

  • Fuel remaining in hours/minutes

  • Number of souls on board 

Until next time,

Captain Will Rondeau

 

 

Brenna Allard
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