MAYDAY vs PAN PAN Practice | Speak, Fly, Pass

BRIEFING

Choose a call and communicate the need

MAYDAY vs PAN PAN practice starts with the crew’s assessment. In these scenarios, use MAYDAY when the crew describe distress and an immediate need for assistance; use PAN PAN for an urgent situation they do not assess as distress. An image alone cannot establish the seriousness of a situation.

Make the message useful: identify the aircraft, describe the problem and position, state your intention and say what help you need. If the situation changes, update ATC. In real operations, use your judgement and the procedures applicable to your flight.

Study each situation and identify the crew’s assessment.
Listen to the exchanges and choose the details you hear.
Check the explanations, then say each useful report aloud.

PRACTICE

Work through the exercise

0 done

PRACTICE 01

Distress, urgency and clear reports

Use the image or the stated crew assessment; do not diagnose an entire emergency from a photograph.

Q1 Look at the picture. Which problem can the crew report seeing?

Flames and smoke rise from an engine beneath the wing of an airborne aircraft.

A fire at an engine A flat main tyre A cracked windscreen Smoke in the cabin

Show answer and explanation

A fire at an engine. Flames and smoke are visible at an engine. The image alone does not establish the crew’s full assessment.

Q2 Look at the picture. Where is the visible smoke?

A light haze fills the aisle of a passenger cabin while an attendant looks towards the rear.

In an engine In the passenger cabin On the runway Inside the control tower

Show answer and explanation

In the passenger cabin. The haze is in the passenger cabin, so a report can identify its location.

Q3 Look at the picture. What is visibly damaged?

A cracked flight-deck windscreen is visible in front of a pilot.

The cabin floor A landing-gear tyre The flight-deck windscreen The wing tip

Show answer and explanation

The flight-deck windscreen. The picture shows a crack in the windscreen. Avoid guessing its cause.

Q4 Look at the picture. Which detail belongs in a damage report?

A main landing-gear tyre is visibly deflated beside a parked aircraft.

A smoking cabin A burning engine A cracked windscreen A deflated main tyre

Show answer and explanation

A deflated main tyre. The main-gear tyre is flattened; report the visible condition rather than an unconfirmed cause.

Q5 Look at the picture. What is the attendant doing?

A cabin attendant assists a seated passenger in an aircraft cabin.

Helping a seated passenger Inspecting an engine Directing the aircraft on the apron Checking the runway

Show answer and explanation

Helping a seated passenger. The attendant is helping a seated passenger. The nature of the illness is not visible.

Q6 The crew assess a situation as distress and need immediate assistance. Which call opens their report?

PAN PAN, PAN PAN, PAN PAN MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY STANDBY, STANDBY, STANDBY ROGER, ROGER, ROGER

Show answer and explanation

MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY. The scenario states that the crew assess distress; the sample distress call opens with MAYDAY.

Q7 The crew assess an urgent situation but not distress. Which call fits this practice scenario?

MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY WILCO, WILCO, WILCO PAN PAN, PAN PAN, PAN PAN CLEARED, CLEARED, CLEARED

Show answer and explanation

PAN PAN, PAN PAN, PAN PAN. The exercise states urgency without distress, so the sample call uses PAN PAN.

Q8 After a PAN PAN, conditions deteriorate and the crew now assess distress. What should they communicate?

Keep the original call and conceal the change Wait until the controller chooses a category Cancel all requests for assistance Declare MAYDAY and describe the change

Show answer and explanation

Declare MAYDAY and describe the change. The crew’s assessment has changed. The new call and a clear update communicate the changed situation.

Q9 After declaring MAYDAY, which report helps ATC understand the situation?

The problem, present position, intention and assistance needed The meal service and passenger seating plan Only the aircraft colour Only a promise to call later

Show answer and explanation

The problem, present position, intention and assistance needed. The nature of the problem, location, intentions and needs give ATC useful information. Add what you can when able.

Q10 A controller cannot hear the nature of the problem. What is the clearest request?

Confirm that everything is normal Say again the nature of your emergency Change the aircraft call sign Continue without any details

Show answer and explanation

Say again the nature of your emergency. Asking the crew to repeat the missing detail makes the uncertainty explicit.

Q11 A crew say only “we have a problem”. Which follow-up is most useful?

Our aircraft is white We have completed the flight plan Smoke is in the cabin; we request an immediate landing We might call you some other time

Show answer and explanation

Smoke is in the cabin; we request an immediate landing. The reply identifies both the observed problem and the assistance requested.

Q12 Can the same kind of technical problem always be assigned one call from a photograph?

Yes, every technical problem is automatically distress Yes, visible damage always means urgency Yes, only the controller can decide from the photograph No; the crew assess the circumstances and update ATC

Show answer and explanation

No; the crew assess the circumstances and update ATC. A photograph cannot show the whole operational situation. State the problem and the crew’s assessment clearly.

PRACTICE 02

A distress report

Transcript

Pilot: MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY. Riverton Approach, Skyline fife two one. Smoke is filling the cabin. We request an immediate landing.
ATC: Skyline fife two one, roger. Expect runway two four. Say number of persons on board when able.

PRACTICE 03

An urgency report

Transcript

Pilot: PAN PAN, PAN PAN, PAN PAN. Lakeport Approach, Nordair two one. We have shut down an engine. We request priority for landing.
ATC: Nordair two one, roger. Expect priority. Advise your intentions.

Check your answers and compare your speaking with the model, then see your practice debrief.

DEBRIEF

Your practice debrief

KEEP PRACTISING

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FAQ

Common questions

What is the difference in MAYDAY vs PAN PAN practice?

In these exercises, a crew who assess distress and an immediate need for assistance use MAYDAY; a crew who assess urgency without distress use PAN PAN. The scenarios state the assessment so you can practise communicating it.

What does a MAYDAY call example include?

A useful example identifies the aircraft and states the problem, position, intention and assistance needed as the situation permits. Listen to the distress exchange and compare it with your own version.

What should a PAN PAN call say?

Give the call, identify your aircraft and explain the urgent problem and what you need. The crew in the urgency recording report an engine shutdown and request priority.

Can a PAN PAN situation become a MAYDAY?

A crew’s assessment can change as a situation develops. If they assess distress, communicate the change and the assistance required. Follow the procedures applicable to the flight.

Are these real exam questions?

No. These are original independent practice scenarios. Aviation English test formats vary by provider.

MAYDAY vs PAN PAN Practice: Choose and Communicate

Choose a call and communicate the need

Work through the exercise

Distress, urgency and clear reports

A distress report

An urgency report

Your practice debrief

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