Pan Pan
Pan Pan (pronounced “pahn pahn”) is the international radiotelephony urgency signal, indicating that a situation exists requiring urgent assistance but not immediate danger to life. It is one level below Mayday in the hierarchy of distress communications.
When to Use Pan Pan
- A passenger on board has a serious medical emergency (not immediately life-threatening)
- Navigational difficulty — lost or uncertain of position with no immediate hazard
- Technical problem that requires priority but is not yet an emergency
- Fuel concern where immediate landing is needed but not yet critical
Pan Pan Call Format
“PAN PAN PAN PAN PAN PAN, [facility], [callsign], [nature of urgency], [intentions], [position and altitude], [other information].” Transmit three times, clearly. If situation deteriorates to immediate danger, upgrade to MAYDAY.