PAN PAN — Urgency
PAN PAN is the urgency call — from French "panne" (= breakdown). Spoken three times.
Source: ICAO Annex 10 Volume II, Section 5.3; ICAO Doc 9432 Chapter 9.
Definition of urgency (Annex 10 Vol II)
Urgency = "A condition concerning the safety of an aircraft or other vehicle, or of some person on board or within sight, but which does not require immediate assistance." So a serious situation exists, but not yet an immediate threat to life — the pilot needs preferential handling, not immediate rescue.
Comparison Distress vs Urgency
| MAYDAY (Distress) | PAN PAN (Urgency) | |
|---|---|---|
| Threat | Serious and imminent | Serious but not imminent |
| Help | Immediate required | Required but time to react |
| Priority | Highest — radio silence demanded | Higher than normal traffic |
| Squawk | 7700 (mandatory) | 7700 possible, not mandatory |
| Examples | Engine failure, fire | Sick passenger, low fuel |
When to use PAN PAN?
PAN PAN is used in an urgent situation where the aircraft or a person on board needs help — but is not in immediate danger of life.
Classic examples
- Fuel low (but not exhausted) — "Minimum Fuel".
- Sick passenger who needs help (but not acutely life-threatening).
- Pilot uncertain about position or weather.
- Mechanical defect that allows flight to continue but needs help.
- Approach problem (e.g. jammed flap) requiring special handling.
- Disoriented pilot in cloud (for VFR pilot without IFR rating — just below MAYDAY).
PAN PAN content (Annex 10 Vol II §5.3.3.1)
An urgency message should contain as many of the following elements as possible — in this order:
| No. | Element | Content |
|---|---|---|
| [1] | Urgency signal | "PAN PAN" × 3 |
| [2] | Station addressed (if time permits) | e.g. "Munich Approach" |
| [3] | Own callsign | DEMRA × 3 |
| [4] | Nature of urgency | type of urgency |
| [5] | Intentions | what the pilot will do (diversion, priority landing) |
| [6] | Position, altitude, heading | current position and movement |
| [7] | Any other useful information | POB, fuel in hours, help requested (ambulance) |
Example — sick passenger
"Pan Pan, Pan Pan, Pan Pan, DEMRA, DEMRA, DEMRA, medical emergency on board, passenger experiencing chest pain, request priority landing at Munich Airport, requesting ambulance services on landing, 15 NM south of Munich, level 5500 ft, heading 360, 3 persons on board."
Example — minimum fuel
"Pan Pan, Pan Pan, Pan Pan, DEMRA, minimum fuel, 25 minutes endurance, request direct vector for Frankfurt, runway 25R, 15 NM north of Frankfurt, level 3500 ft."
ATC response
"DEMRA, Pan acknowledged, what assistance do you require?"
or: "DEMRA, Pan roger, medical emergency, expect priority approach, runway 25R, ambulance on standby."
Frequency
- Primary frequency: current.
- 121.500 MHz: in language confusion or no response on primary.
- Squawk 7700 is not mandatory for PAN PAN (unlike MAYDAY) — but can be useful.
Between MAYDAY and PAN PAN
Escalation possible:
- Pilot reports PAN PAN first.
- Situation worsens → pilot escalates to MAYDAY:
- "Mayday Mayday Mayday, DEMRA, upgrading from Pan Pan to Mayday, [new situation]."
or reverse:
- Pilot reports MAYDAY.
- Situation improves → pilot downgrades:
- "DEMRA, downgrading from Mayday to Pan Pan, [situation]."
Traffic behaviour during PAN PAN
- Lower priority than MAYDAY, but higher priority than normal traffic.
- Others may still transmit, but should keep brief and prioritise the emergency pilot.
- Unlike Mayday, no general radio silence is imposed.
Termination
- "DEMRA, cancel Pan, situation resolved."
- ATC: "DEMRA, Pan cancelled, resume normal service."
Practical notes
- When in doubt: PAN PAN is always better than nothing.
- Escalation easy: PAN PAN to MAYDAY is immediate.
- Pilot should not hesitate: if uncertain, declare PAN PAN.
Cross-reference
- Subject 070 Lesson "Emergency Procedures" for action phases.
- Subject 040 Lesson "Stress" for mental support.
- Subject 090 Lesson "MAYDAY" for the distress level one step above.