Definitions

Distress
Distress is a condition of being threatened by serious and/or
imminent danger and of requiring immediate assistance.

Urgency
Urgency is a condition concerning the security of a ship, aircraft or
other vehicle, or of some person on board or within sight, but which
does not require immediate assistance.

Safety
Safety is that condition which necessitates the transmission of a
message concerning the safety of navigation or providing important
meteorological warnings.

Precedence
Distress
Distress traffic shall have absolute priority over all other
transmissions. All stations which hear the distress call shall
immediately cease any transmission capable of interfering with the
distress traffic and shall continue to listen on the frequency used for
the emission of the distress call.

Urgency
Urgency traffic shall have priority over all other communications,
except distress. All stations which hear the urgency signal shall take
care not to interfere with the transmission of the message which
follows the urgency signal.

Transmission Speed
In cases of distress, urgency or safety, transmissions:
By radiotelephony, shall be made slowly and distinctly, each word
being clearly pronounced to facilitate transcription.
 Distress Call Distress Message and
Distress Traffic

Distress Call

MAY DAY MAY DAY MAY DAY COLOMBO THIS IS SIA461 ON 11285
(MAY DAY PRONOUNCED AS MAIDER)

Distress Message (With the Distress Call)

MAY DAY MAY DAY MAYDAY COLOMBO SIA461 ON 11285 SIA461 ENGINES
FAILED 120 MILES TO IDUDO LOOSING HEIGHT DESCENDING TO FLIGHT LEVEL
250 TRUE AIR SPEED 300 KNOTS HEADING 210 DEGREES INTEND DITCHING 306
PASSENGERS ON BOARD.

Acknowledgement of Receipt

G/S SIA461 COLOMBO ROGER MAY DAY

N.B. INFORM ATC, CENTRE SUPERVISOR AND AIRLINE CONCERNED

IMMEDIATELY AND GUARD THE FREQUENCY. NOW 11285 BECOMES THE
DISTRESS FREQUENCY AND NO OTHER COMMUNICATION CAN TAKE
PLACE UNTIL THE DISTRESS SITUATION IS TERMINATED.

SS VCCCZQZX VCCCYCYX VCBIALKX VCBISIAX

230510 VCCCZZZX
SIA461 ENGINES FAILED 120 MILES TO IDUDO LOOSING HEIGHT DES FL250
TAS300 HDG210 DEG INTEND DITCHING POB306.
VCCC R
LD KI

IMPOSE SILENCE BY THE STATION CONTROLLING DISTRESS

TRAFIC (GROUND STATION)

ALL STATIONS COLOMBO STOP TRANSMITTING MAY DAY

SS VCCCZQZX
230511 VCCCYSYX
ALL STN STOP TRANSMITTING MAY DAY
LD KI
 Cancellation of Distress by the Station in Distress

Message Passed by the Aircraft

COLOMBO SIA461 CANCELL DISTRESS ENGINGES BACK TO NORMAL

ASCENDING FL310 70MILES TO IDUDO ESTIMATE IDUDO 0525 TRUE AIR SPEED
400 HEADING 109 DEGREES ETA COLOMBO 0600

Acknowledgement of Receipt

G/S SIA461 …..(RB)….COLOMBO

N.B. INFORM ATC, CENTRE SUPERVISOR AND OTHER RELEVANT

ORGANIZATIONS. AWAIT FOR INSTRUCTIONS FROM ATC TO CANCEL
DISTRESS SITUATION.

SS VCCCZQZX VCCCYCYX VCBIALKX VCBISIAX

130520 VCCCZZZX
SIA461 CANCEL DISTRESS ENGINES BACK TO NORMAL ASC FL310 70 MILES
TO IDUDO EST IDUDO0525 TAS 400 HDG 109 DEG ETAVCBI0600
VCCC RB
LD KI

CANCELLATION OF DISTRESS SITUATION BY STATION CONTROLLING

DISTRESS TRAFFIC

ALL STATIONS COLOMBO DISTRESS TRAFFIC ENDED

SS VCCCZQZX
130525 VCCCYSYX
ALL STATIONS DISTRESS TFC ENDED
LD KI