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AviationDistress and Urgency Rules
Twenty flashcards on radio priority, emergency frequencies, transponder codes and what to do after a forced landing.
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20 cards
- What priority do distress calls have?
- Absolute priority over all other calls; MAYDAY imposes radio silence on the frequency in use.
- What priority do urgency calls have?
- Priority over all calls except distress; PAN-PAN warns other stations not to interfere.
- What must the station addressed do with a distress message?
- Acknowledge it at once, help, coordinate other facilities and alert search and rescue if warranted.
- When is responsibility passed to another station?
- Only if that gives better handling.
- What do all other stations do during a distress call?
- Keep listening until help is clearly under way, and step in if the call was not received.
- Which two emergency frequencies can be used?
- 121.5 MHz and 243.0 MHz.
- What range do the emergency frequencies have?
- Generally limited to line of sight.
- Who guards 121.5 MHz?
- Direction-finding stations and some military and civil aircraft, plus military towers, most civil towers and radar facilities.
- Who guards 243.0 MHz?
- Military aircraft, plus military towers, most civil towers and radar facilities.
- What if an ARTCC does not answer on 121.5 or 243.0 MHz?
- Call the nearest tower.
- Why climb, if possible, in an emergency?
- For better radio contact and better radar and direction-finding detection.
- What limits that climb?
- Climbing or descending without authorization under IFR in controlled airspace is prohibited, except as 14 CFR 91.3(b) allows.
- Which transponder code is kept while in radio contact with ATC?
- The assigned code with Mode C, unless told otherwise.
- When is code 7700 selected?
- When the pilot cannot immediately establish contact with an ATC facility; squawk 7700 with Mode C.
- After contact is made, what should the pilot do?
- Follow the advice given, cooperate, ask when unsure and avoid changing frequency unless absolutely necessary.
- If two-way contact fails on a new frequency, what then?
- Return at once to the frequency or station where contact last worked.
- Where should a pilot try to ditch?
- Near a surface vessel; an FAA facility can get the nearest ship's position from a Coast Guard rescue center.
- After a crash landing, should occupants stay with the aircraft?
- Yes, unless there is good reason to think searchers will not find it; prepare ways to signal.
- What does transponder code 7500 mean?
- Hijacking; ATC never assigns it unless the pilot reports unlawful interference first.
- Which ACS code tags the FAA sample question on the emergency frequency for a VFR cross-country without ATC contact?
- PA.III.A.K1; the emergency frequency the AIM gives is 121.5 MHz.
Official sources
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Aeronautical Information Manual, Chapter 6, Section 3: Distress and Urgency Procedures
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
PAR - Private Pilot Airplane sample knowledge test questions (with ACS codes)
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