Question:
What conditions or situations warrant declaring an emergency with ATC?
Answer:
Let’s look at the textbook answer first and then we’ll talk about how that applies to the real world. An emergency can either be a distress or an urgency condition. Basically, it’s any time that you are in doubt as to the safe outcome of the flight. As the pilot in command, you’re the one who is responsible for the safe outcome and you have the authority under the FARs to declare an emergency.
The difference between a Distress and Urgency condition: Distress is obviously that, DISTRESS. The engine has quit, the airplane is on fire, and we have to do something right now. Those are the pretty easy ones to make the decision on. You’re going to do what you have to do to complete the flight safely. The really grey ones are the Urgency ones. That’s what we’d like to talk about here.
What constitutes an Urgency condition? Is it that feeling in the seat of your pants that something is not right with the airplane? Is it a warning light? Are you a little low on fuel? Are you unsure of your position? Is the weather getting lower than you would like to see it? Those are all Urgency situations. What can you do about it? Well, again, the first thing to do is to fess up and talk to ATC. ATC can be a great resource. They can’t fly the airplane for you, but they can definitely help you with some of the tools that you might need to manage the safe outcome of that flight.
The sooner you can communicate the information, the sooner ATC can mobilize whatever resources are necessary to assist you. If you start running into some weather that’s significantly lower than you’re comfortable with, this is the time to communicate and say . Approach. Ceilings are getting too low here. I’m going to need some help finding another airport. As pilots, we always run into that ego situation where we don’t want to self-confess. But I would rather self-confess and say – Hey, I need some help here – than to have it progress to the point beyond where ATC can do anything to help you out.
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Brian’s Last Word
As When I had my engine failure back in 2010, I was able to contact the La Ronge FSS and let them know that I was having engine problems and told them I was probably going to land on a logging road. I never did declare an emergency however they specifically asked me “Are you declaring an emergency?” I replied “Well, my engine is not producing any power and I’m landing on a logging road so, yes I am!” As I found out later at that point in time they were already mobilizing the ground troops to try and locate me. I had given them my approximate location earlier in my radio call.
I just read about an accident where the pilot never declared an emergency although his engine was running very rough, he was in heavy IFR 3 miles off the coast of Florida. ATC gave him vectors to the nearest airport but they were not direct. If he had declared an emergency, they would have given him vectors direct to the airport or closest point of land. Unfortunately, his engine failed completely and he and two of his passengers drowned.
This is not an uncommon occurrence, as some pilots are reluctant to say, “I’m declaring an emergency”, for fear of repercussions after the fact. The point is, you will never get into trouble for that declaration.
Another consideration in doing this is that it breaks a psychological barrier. If for whatever reason you’re having doubts about making such a declaration, once you do, you’ve now accepted that it is an emergency situation, whatever the magnitude might be, and that makes it much easier for you to shift your thinking squarely into your emergency response mode.
So, if you have a problem that is getting worse, or could get worse, call the nearest ATC facility or broadcast blind on 121.5 or 126.7. Declare a PAN PAN, a Mayday, or an outright Emergency.
There are absolutely no negative repercussions to doing so, and it might just save your life or someone else’s.
Brian
Calgary Recreational Flying Club YYC 