SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/sport-pan-pan-urgency

Which spoken signal declares an urgency condition rather than a distress condition?

PAN-PAN.

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  1. MAYDAY
  2. SECURITE
  3. PAN-PAN ✔

Why: PAN-PAN signals an urgency condition, like a problem that needs help soon. MAYDAY is for distress, meaning grave and immediate danger. SECURITE is a marine safety call.

Huh, didn't know that: The distress call should begin with MAYDAY, preferably repeated three times.

The dad joke
PAN-PAN sounds like a cooking show, but nobody on the radio is asking for a recipe.
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References

Answer: PAN-PAN. PAN-PAN signals an urgency condition, like a problem that needs help soon. MAYDAY is for distress, meaning grave and immediate danger. SECURITE is a marine safety call.

  1. FAA AIM 6-3-1 Distress and Urgency Communications www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap6_section_3.html
    The signal PAN-PAN should be used in the same manner for an urgency condition.
    Checked 2026-10-10.
  2. FAA AIM 6-3-1 Distress and Urgency Communications www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap6_section_3.html
    should begin with the signal MAYDAY, preferably repeated three times.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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