Forced landing (engine failure)
An engine failure leading to a forced landing is a distress situation — declare a MAYDAY. But fly the aircraft first: best glide speed and choose a field, THEN make the call. Don't get drawn into a long conversation.
- MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY
- Station addressed — the one you're working, or “any station” / 121.500 if not in contact with anyone
- Your callsign and aircraft type
- Nature: “engine failure, carrying out a forced landing”
- Your intentions and the field/area you're aiming for
- Position, heading and altitude
- Persons on board
- Squawk 7700
Priority order: Aviate → Navigate → Communicate. The radio call comes AFTER flying the aircraft and picking your field. Don't expect a reply — pass what you can.
Radio failure & MAYDAY relay
If the radio fails, keep flying the aircraft and squawk 7600 (or 7700 if it's part of a wider emergency). What you do next depends on which part has failed.
Receiver failed (you can still transmit)
Transmit your messages “blind”, prefixed “transmitting blind”, at the points you'd normally report, stating your intentions.
Transmitter failed (you can still receive)
Listen out and comply with instructions; acknowledge by an agreed means — press IDENT, or by day rock your wings and by night flash your lights.
Complete failure
Squawk 7600, follow your last clearance or the expected procedure, and look out for light signals from the tower.
MAYDAY RELAY: if you hear a distress call the controlling station hasn't acknowledged, or you need to pass one on behalf of an aircraft that can't, transmit “MAYDAY RELAY” (×3) and relay the distress message you heard.
Unsure of your position? Don't leave it too late — ask for help early: request a position fix or a QDM, or call for a Basic/Traffic Service. If you become genuinely lost or short of options it becomes an urgency (PAN-PAN), or a distress (MAYDAY) if you're in real difficulty.