Emergency quick reference card

MAYDAY — distress

Use when there is grave and imminent danger requiring immediate assistance. Say "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY" first, then work through:

1. Callsign
2. Nature of the emergency
3. Your intention
4. Present position
5. Heading (if relevant)
6. Altitude / level
7. Number of persons on board
8. Any other useful information

Transmit on the frequency you're currently using, or 121.5 MHz if you're not in contact with anyone. If you can, select 7700 on the transponder (Mode ALT selected). If workload doesn't allow the full call at once, give what you can and add the rest as you're able — a partial MAYDAY is far better than none at all.

PAN PAN — urgency

Use when the situation is serious but doesn't yet threaten life or the safety of the aircraft, and you need help or priority without declaring a full emergency. Say "PAN PAN, PAN PAN, PAN PAN" first, then give the same information as a MAYDAY call above. A PAN PAN can be upgraded to a MAYDAY at any time if the situation worsens.

Emergency & special-purpose squawk codes

Keep Mode ALT selected so your level is visible alongside the code. Only operate IDENT when specifically instructed to.

Forced landing without power: field selection

A widely taught way to run through your options quickly, working from a safe height:

• Size — long and wide enough for the aircraft and conditions.
• Shape — regular, without obstructions cutting across your landing run.
• Slope — land uphill if there's a meaningful slope, not downhill.
• Surface — firm, even ground; standing crops, livestock and visible rough ground are all against you.
• Surrounds — power lines, trees, buildings and other obstructions near the approach and the field itself.
• Sun — avoid landing straight into a low sun if you have a choice.
• Stock — livestock in the field is a real hazard on the landing run.

Once a field is chosen, a common technique is a constant-aspect (constant-angle) approach: fly a descending turn that keeps the field at roughly the same angle below you throughout, correcting with the turn rather than diving at the field or flying a fixed pattern that ignores how the glide is actually going. This gives you a continuously updated picture of whether you're going to make it, rather than committing early to a plan that can't adjust.

Work the standard sequence alongside field selection: trim for best glide speed, consider the cause (a restart may be appropriate if height and time allow), make the distress call, secure the cabin and brief any passengers, and shut down the engine/fuel before touchdown if there's time to do so safely.

Fire drills

Exact actions and their order vary by aircraft — always follow your own type's checklist. As general principles: for an engine fire, the usual priority is cutting off the fuel supply to starve the fire, along with mixture/throttle and ignition as your checklist directs, then land as soon as possible. For an electrical fire, isolating the electrical system (master off) removes the likely source, at the cost of losing electrical services. For any in-flight fire, getting the aircraft on the ground as soon as possible takes priority over almost everything else.

Ditching

If a landing on water becomes necessary: make your distress call and pass position before you lose the ability to transmit, brief passengers and secure loose items, ensure life jackets are worn (not just available) and doors are unlocked or removed if the type allows, and aim to touch down in a nose-high, wings-level attitude at the lowest safe speed, generally into wind unless swell direction makes a different heading safer. Evacuate promptly once stopped — the aircraft's flotation time is not guaranteed. See the CAA's own Safety Sense Leaflet 21 (Ditching) for the fuller treatment.