Emergency radio calls — transcript

00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:05.180 Emergency radio calls: how clear, how urgent, and what a drone crew actually does.

00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:12.555 Readability runs from one, unreadable, to five, perfectly readable.

00:00:12.555 --> 00:00:18.166 At three or below, don't guess. Ask them to say again, then check volume,

00:00:18.166 --> 00:00:23.700 squelch and frequency, or move. Never act on a message you didn't catch.

00:00:24.050 --> 00:00:29.050 Two calls to know. MAYDAY is distress: grave and imminent danger,

00:00:29.050 --> 00:00:35.186 and you need immediate assistance. PAN-PAN is urgency: an urgent safety problem,

00:00:35.186 --> 00:00:39.959 but no immediate assistance needed. Say each word three times.

00:00:40.309 --> 00:00:47.510 A MAYDAY, in order. The word three times. Your callsign, three times. Aircraft type.

00:00:47.510 --> 00:00:52.848 Position and altitude. What has happened. And your intentions.

00:00:55.309 --> 00:01:00.990 Hear a MAYDAY on the CTAF? Stop transmitting, and listen. Land,

00:01:00.990 --> 00:01:03.564 and keep the airspace clear.

00:01:03.914 --> 00:01:10.021 A PAN-PAN: the word three times, then the station you're calling, your callsign,

00:01:10.021 --> 00:01:13.490 type, position and altitude, and the problem.

00:01:13.490 --> 00:01:18.542 It can also report something you've seen, like a boat in distress.

00:01:19.414 --> 00:01:23.358 Quick check. A single-engine aircraft loses its engine. Which call?

00:01:25.414 --> 00:01:27.869 MAYDAY. Grave and imminent danger.

00:01:28.414 --> 00:01:33.782 For a drone crew, the order never changes. Aviate: keep control. Navigate:

00:01:33.782 --> 00:01:38.291 know where it is, and get it somewhere safe. Then communicate.

00:01:38.291 --> 00:01:40.796 Never lose control to make a call.

00:01:43.414 --> 00:01:49.139 A flyaway, drifting toward the circuit. The pilot keeps working the aircraft,

00:01:49.139 --> 00:01:54.498 and the observer calls. PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN. Wattle Creek traffic,

00:01:54.498 --> 00:02:00.517 Kestrel One, unmanned multirotor, one mile south of the field, four hundred feet,

00:02:00.517 --> 00:02:02.352 flyaway, tracking north.

00:02:02.702 --> 00:02:07.558 Lost communications? Check the radio's on, then volume, squelch and frequency.

00:02:07.558 --> 00:02:11.984 Lost before flight: don't launch. Lost in flight: recover or terminate,

00:02:11.984 --> 00:02:15.241 as your procedure says. Then report it, as required.

00:02:17.702 --> 00:02:23.258 Recap. Three or below: say again. MAYDAY for distress, PAN-PAN for urgency,

00:02:23.258 --> 00:02:27.133 each three times. And aviate before you communicate.

00:02:27.483 --> 00:02:32.456 Final check. Your drone stops responding and drifts toward the circuit.

00:02:32.456 --> 00:02:33.700 What comes first?

00:02:34.483 --> 00:02:37.017 Aviate. Keep control, then make the call.