On 19 Jun, 11:20, Jonas Eberle wrote:

Somehow I get confused because Wikipedia states it different:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan-pan...istress_signal)
They refer to the lower/higher order of the emergency situation.
Can anyone clarify that?

Mayday originally meant "grave and imminent danger to vessel (or
aircraft)". It doesn't have to be your own: if you see a ship sinking
or a glider lose a wing then you are perfectly justified in calling
Mayday.

It did not - the last time I checked, and when I was examined in such
things by a Marconi man - mean "grave and imminent danger to a
person". Various authorities - starting, I think, with the Royal
Yachting Association in the UK - have tried to extend the meaning de
facto, but as far as I am aware it's not official. Theoretically,
therefore, you could be in trouble for calling Mayday for a man
overboard. However, I doubt if anyone would prosecute in practixe, and
if my crew fell overboard I'd call any damn thing I thought would help
and deal with the consequences later.

To return to the distinction, Pan Pan means "this is nasty, but
nothing is on the point of sinking or crashing and "Securite securite
means "look out, folks".

Calling Mayday causes all sorts of things to happen. Everybody else
will stop transmitting (even pan pans). Every available receiver will
be tuned in to you. Recorders will start running. People will be
called in from rest periods. Air crews will warm up helicopters. Huge
amounts of money will be spent.

It is absolutely, grossly, terribly irresponsible to use it for
anything other than dreadful emergency. "I might screw up this landing
so I'd better ask for help just in case" is NOT a dreadful emergency.

Ian