Jonas Eberle wrote:
On 19 Jun., 10:33, Ian wrote:

On 12 Jun, 15:56, 5Z wrote:


Pilot is soaring over remote Utah with some reasonably safe looking
dry lakes, pastures, whatever below. Runs out of lift and decides
it's time to start the engine while within easy range of one of these
landing options. The engine fails to start, the location is extremely
remote, so pilot makes a MAYDAY call while still in the landing
pattern to ensure someone will come get him if problems arise.

That would be a gross misuse - an abuse - of the MAYDAY call. You are
NOT supposed to use it on the off chance that something might go wrong
later.

Ian


On the discussion Pan-Pan vs. Mayday:
As I learned it (and is content of German PPL exams), Mayday means
declaring an emergency for your OWN plane, whereas Pan-Pan means you
noticed an emergency on someone else.

An engine failure on your plane would in this sense be a Mayday, an
observed car crash or a broken glider on the ground would be a Pan-
Pan.

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

Here is text regarding marine VHF use of mayday and pan pan. I recall
learning the same for aircraft use as well (USA)...

7. Emergency signals:

* "MAYDAY": this distress signal is to be used only when threat of
grave and iminent danger exists; requests immediate assistance. “MAYDAY”
has priority over all other messages.
* "PAN PAN": this urgency signal is to be used when the safety of
vessel or person(s) is in jeopardy.

(From website:
http://www.co.escambia.fl.us/departm...Procedures.php )

Scott