Distress message and action sequence

Distress message content, in order (RIC-21 6.8):

1. MAYDAY
2. Call sign (once)
3. Nature of distress and assistance required
4. PIC intentions
5. Position (airspeed, altitude, heading)
6. Persons on board and injuries
7. Other information useful for rescue
8. Call sign again

• Message follows call immediately: items 1-2 (MAYDAY, call sign) may be dropped.

NAV CANADA MAYDAY call format (VFR Phraseology, Emergency Communications):

1. MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY
2. Call sign
3. Situation / location / request / intentions
4. Number of persons on board
5. Fuel / endurance

Repeat (RIC-21 6.9):

• Repeat at intervals long enough for a receiving station to reply.
• Continue until answered, or no longer feasible.

Action sequence (RIC-21 6.10):

1. Transmit distress call
2. Transmit distress message
3. Listen for acknowledgment
4. Exchange further distress traffic, as applicable
5. Activate automatic emergency equipment (e.g. ELT) if available and appropriate

Trap: if message follows call at once, MAYDAY signal and call sign may be dropped from the message (RIC-21 6.8 Note).

Practice