B15. Distress, Urgency and Communication Failure Quiz

Q1. An IFR flight experiencing communications failure in IMC should:

Continue on the last assigned route and altitude.

Proceed directly to the destination airport.

Descend immediately to VMC and land.

Points to Remember – Maintain the last assigned route and altitude provided by ATC
– Avoid changing route or descending blindly into clouds to prevent collisions
– ATC will clear other aircraft based on your last assigned instructions

Q2. A pilot experiencing transmitter failure should:

Maintain a look out and continue to destination.

Descend immediately and land at the nearest field.

Transmit messages blind and key the microphone to answer yes/no questions.

Points to Remember – Transmit messages blindly even if the transmitter seems broken
– The transmitter might be functioning even if the receiver is not
– Use microphone clicks as a simple yes/no code
– ATC may be able to identify these clicks on radar transitions

Q3. A relayed emergency message is used when:

An aircraft transmits an emergency message on behalf of another aircraft in distress.

The aircraft in distress makes a blind call.

ATC needs to confirm the identity of the aircraft in distress through another station.

Points to Remember – An aircraft in distress cannot communicate directly with ATC
– A nearby aircraft intercepts the message and passes it to the ground station
– The relaying aircraft acts as an intermediary messenger to facilitate emergency assistance

Q4. The SSR transponder code for an unlawful seizure hijack is:

7700

7600

7500

Points to Remember – Use SSR transponder code 7500 to signal an unlawful seizure or hijack
– A common mnemonic to remember this is “75 – man with a knife”
– Air Traffic Control (ATC) alerts authorities discreetly upon seeing this code
– This silent alert process is designed to maintain safety on board the aircraft

Q5. What does the transponder code 7600 indicate?

General emergency.

Radio communication failure.

Hijack or other act of violence.

Points to Remember – Transponder code 7600 indicates a radio communication failure
– Use the mnemonic 76 sounds like radio sticks to remember communication failure
– ATC identifies the 7600 squawk on radar to recognize that the pilot cannot communicate
– Controllers will use alternative methods to assist the aircraft once the failure is identified

Q6. The correct order for the information in a distress message is:

Nature of emergency, Call sign, MAYDAY, Intention.

Call sign, Nature of emergency, MAYDAY, Position.

MAYDAY, Call sign, Position, Nature of emergency.

Points to Remember – Start with MAYDAY to get immediate attention
– State your call sign to identify yourself
– Provide your position to show where you are
– Describe the nature of the emergency to explain what is wrong

Q7. The signal SECURITE is used for which of the following situations?

An emergency on board requiring a priority landing.

Navigational or meteorological warnings.

A security threat on board.

Points to Remember – Used for safety announcements and important safety information
– Includes weather warnings and hazards to navigation
– Does not refer to security threats or emergency situations

Q8. During a communications failure, a VFR flight should:

Continue in VMC and land at the nearest suitable aerodrome.

Continue on its last assigned route for 7 minutes and then land at nearest aerodrome.

Continue in VMC and land at the destination aerodrome.

Points to Remember – Stay in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC)
– Land at the nearest suitable aerodrome as soon as possible
– Avoid continuing long journeys without communication since VFR relies on visual navigation

Q9. The responsibility to inform ATC and nominate the readiness of aerodrome emergency services in an in-flight emergency lies with the:

Pilot.

Lead Flight Attendant.

Airline Operations Center.

Points to Remember – The pilot-in-command is responsible for notifying ATC of an in-flight emergency
– The pilot must specify and request the necessary aerodrome emergency services
– Operations centers and flight attendants support the flight but do not handle ATC emergency communications

Q10. Who is permitted to impose silence on a frequency using the phrase STOP TRANSMITTING MAYDAY?

The nearest Air Traffic Control unit.

Any station that hears a distress call.

Only the station in distress or the station controlling the distress traffic.

Points to Remember – Only two individuals have the authority to impose silence on a frequency
– The pilot of the aircraft currently in distress can request silence
– The air traffic controller handling the emergency situation can also mandate silence
– Other pilots or students on the frequency are not permitted to tell others to be quiet

Q11. Which of the following is a distress situation?

Being unsure of your ground position.

A passenger with a suspected heart attack.

An engine on fire, leading to a forced landing.

Points to Remember – A distress situation involves serious and imminent danger to the aircraft and passengers
– An engine on fire is classified as a distress situation (MAYDAY)
– Medical emergencies, such as a heart attack, are generally classified as urgency (PAN-PAN)
– Being lost is categorized as an urgency situation rather than distress

Q12. What does the term imposing silence refer to?

Asking all stations to stop transmitting to protect distress traffic.

Asking all stations to change over to another frequency.

Asking all stations to give priority to distress traffic calls.

Points to Remember – Instructing all stations on a frequency to stop transmitting immediately
– Ensuring emergency communications can proceed without any interference
– Creating a clear channel so critical messages are heard by the intended recipients

Q13. If a pilot is unsure of their ground position and requires assistance, the appropriate call is:

PAN PAN

MAYDAY

SECURITE

Points to Remember – Use PAN PAN for urgent situations that are not immediately life-threatening, such as being lost
– Reserve MAYDAY for scenarios involving immediate danger to the aircraft or personnel
– Use SECURITE to broadcast safety warnings regarding navigation or weather to other pilots

Q14. After a communications failure, a pilot should attempt to use which of the following to contact ATC?

Morse code on the VHF frequency.

A mobile phone if coverage is available.

Standard visual signals to other aircraft.

Points to Remember – Use a mobile phone to call ATC if the radio fails
– Mobile phones are practical and effective in modern aviation
– Visual signals and Morse code are not considered primary options when cell coverage is available

Q15. The phrase MINIMUM FUEL indicates that:

The aircraft is in a distress condition due to fuel shortage.

Any change to the clearance may result in landing with less than planned reserve fuel.

The aircraft will run out of fuel in the next 20 minutes.

Points to Remember – Indicates the aircraft has just enough fuel to complete the planned flight
– Requests that ATC avoid changing the route or causing delays
– Does not constitute an emergency
– Serves as a notification that any further delays could lead to a problem

Q16. What is the correct phraseology to declare a condition of being threatened by serious and/or imminent danger requiring immediate assistance?

SECURITE, SECURITE, SECURITE

MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY

PAN PAN, PAN PAN, PAN PAN

Points to Remember – Use MAYDAY three times for serious or imminent danger
– MAYDAY signals a need for immediate assistance
– Use PAN PAN for urgent but not life-threatening situations
– Use SECURITE for important safety warnings

Q17. Which frequency is the international VHF distress frequency?

121.5 MHz

243.0 MHz

406.0 MHz

Points to Remember – 121.5 MHz is the international VHF distress frequency used by pilots and controllers
– 243.0 MHz is the dedicated emergency frequency for military aircraft
– 406.0 MHz is the frequency used by Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) to alert satellites

Q18. When an aircraft is no longer in distress, it should:

Give a call DISTRESS TRAFFIC ENDED.

Land at the nearest aerodrome and get the aircraft checked.

Transmit a message canceling the distress condition.

Points to Remember – The pilot must cancel the distress condition once the emergency is over
– Pilots only cancel their own distress and do not use the phrase DISTRESS TRAFFIC ENDED
– The phrase DISTRESS TRAFFIC ENDED is reserved for the ATC station controlling the traffic

Q19. The primary purpose of an Aerodrome Emergency Plan is to:

Coordinate the response of different services to an emergency within a FIR.

Coordinate the response of different services to an emergency on or near the aerodrome.

Coordinate the response of different services to an emergency in a CTA.

Points to Remember – Coordinates the response of fire, ambulance, and other emergency services
– Ensures a teamwork-based approach when incidents occur at or near the airport
– Focuses specifically on the aerodrome area rather than the entire airspace

Q20. The signal PAN PAN MEDICAL indicates that the message concerns:

A medical supply delivery by Red Cross.

A protected medical transport under the Geneva Convention.

A medical emergency requiring an immediate landing.

Points to Remember – Refers to medical transports protected under the Geneva Convention
– Applies to vehicles like ambulance helicopters or medical evacuation flights
– Carries a special legal meaning for protection during armed conflicts
– Is not used for general medical emergencies on board regular flights

Q21. An aircraft experiencing rough running of an engine but not requiring immediate assistance should declare:

MAYDAY

PAN PAN

SECURITE

Points to Remember – Use PAN PAN for urgent situations that are not immediate life-or-death emergencies
– Rough engine operation is a typical example where PAN PAN is appropriate
– Reserve MAYDAY for cases where there is immediate danger to the aircraft or life
– Use SECURITE for messages concerning meteorological or navigational safety warnings

Q22. What is the first action a station should take upon receiving a distress message?

Immediately transfer the aircraft to another frequency.

Impose silence on all other stations.

Immediately acknowledge the distress message.

Points to Remember – Immediately acknowledge receipt of the message
– Inform the sender that the distress call has been heard
– Prioritize acknowledgement over silence or other procedural actions

Q23. The phrase DISTRESS TRAFFIC ENDED is used to:

Terminate a distress communication and silence condition.

Terminate a distress communication.

Acknowledge the call and continue as per plan.

Points to Remember – Ends the distress communication phase
– Lifts the radio silence previously imposed on the frequency
– Signals that normal communication can resume

Q24. An aircraft that observes a severe cyclonic storm over the sea should broadcast a:

PAN PAN call for other vessels.

SECURITE message as a warning.

MAYDAY call for itself.

Points to Remember – A cyclonic storm represents a safety hazard to other vessels and aircraft
– It is not necessarily an immediate emergency for the observing aircraft
– The SECURITE signal is broadcast to warn others about the potential danger
– This broadcast acts as a warning sign for others to ensure their safety

Q25. The urgency signal can be indicated visually by:

Flashing navigation lights.

The repeated switching on and off of the landing lights.

Firing a red flare.

Points to Remember – Flash landing lights on and off repeatedly to signal urgency visually
– Use this method if the radio is not working to get attention
– Avoid using red flares or navigation lights as they are not standard urgency signals

Q26. If the station addressed does not acknowledge a distress message, what should other stations do?

Ignore the call to avoid frequency congestion.

Render assistance.

Wait for a controller to respond.

Points to Remember – Stations must provide assistance if a distress message remains unacknowledged
– Other stations should step in to help when the intended station does not respond
– Aviation principles prioritize safety and mutual aid in emergency situations

Q27. What is the correct phrase to prefix a transmission when a pilot cannot receive a response due to receiver failure?

NEED ASSISTANCE DUE RECEIVER FAILURE

PAN PAN RECEIVER FAILURE

TRANSMITTING BLIND DUE TO RECEIVER FAILURE

Points to Remember – Use the phrase TRANSMITTING BLIND DUE TO RECEIVER FAILURE when you cannot hear ATC
– This informs ATC that you are sending messages without the ability to receive their replies
– It is termed blind transmission because it is one-way communication similar to talking with your ears covered

Q28. In non-radar areas, maintain the last assigned speed/level or the minimum safe altitude if higher for how many minutes after the last compulsory reporting point was overflown, then resume the flight-plan altitude and speed?

7 minutes

10 minutes

20 minutes

Points to Remember – Maintain the last assigned speed/level or minimum safe altitude for 20 minutes after passing the last reporting point
– Resume the flight-plan altitude and speed only after this 20-minute period
– This rule applies specifically in non-radar areas where ATC cannot track aircraft position via radar
– The delay ensures ATC has sufficient time to establish aircraft location and maintain separation for safety

Q29. Which SSR transponder code should a pilot select when not in contact with ATC and experiencing an emergency?