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RIC-22 — General Radiotelephone Operating Procedures

6. Urgency Communications

6.1 Urgency Signal

The urgency signal indicates that the station calling has a very urgent message to transmit concerning the safety of a station or a person, but does not require immediate assistance and shall only be sent on the authority of the person in charge of the station.

The urgency signal is "PAN PAN" spoken three times. It should be used at the beginning of the first communication.

The urgency signal and the urgency message may be addressed to all stations or to a specific station.

6.2 Priority

The urgency signal has priority over all other communications except distress.

Stations that hear the urgency signal shall continue to listen for at least three minutes on the frequency which the signal was heard. After that, if no urgency message has been heard, stations may resume normal service. All stations that hear the urgency signal must take care not to interfere with the urgency message which follows. Stations that are in communication on frequencies other than those used for the transmission of the urgency message, may continue normal work without interruption, provided that the urgency message is not addressed to all stations.

6.3 Frequencies to Be Used

The first transmission of the urgency signal and message by a station should be made on the frequency in use at the time. If the station is unable to establish communication on the frequency in use, the urgency signal and message should be repeated on any other frequency available in an effort to establish communication with any other station.

6.4 Urgency Message

The urgency signal shall be followed by a message giving further information of the incident that necessitated the use of the urgency signal.

The urgency message should contain as many as required of the following elements spoken distinctly and, if possible, in the following order:

  1. the urgency signal "PAN PAN" (three times);
  2. the name of the station addressed or the words "ALL STATIONS" (three times);
  3. the words "THIS IS";
  4. the identification of the station sending the urgency message;
  5. the nature of the urgency condition;
  6. the intentions of the person in command;
  7. present position, flight level or altitude and heading;
  8. any other useful information.

Example:

PAN PAN, PAN PAN, PAN PAN
ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS
THIS IS
CESSNA CHARLIE FOXTROT NOVEMBER JULIETT INDIA
LOST, REQUEST RADAR CHECK
POSITION: UNKNOWN
AIRSPEED: 112 KNOTS
ALTITUDE: 1050 FEET
CESSNA CHARLIE FOXTROT NOVEMBER JULIETT INDIA
OVER

Example of reply:

PAN PAN
CESSNA CHARLIE FOXTROT NOVEMBER JULIETT INDIA
THIS IS WINNIPEG TOWER
YOUR POSITION IS 20 MILES SOUTH OF WINNIPEG
WINNIPEG TOWER
STANDING BY

6.5 Cancellation of Urgency Message

When the urgency message which calls for action by the stations receiving the message has been transmitted, the station responsible for its transmission shall cancel it as soon as it knows that action is no longer necessary. The cancellation message shall be addressed to "ALL STATIONS".

Example:

PAN PAN
HELLO ALL STATIONS, HELLO ALL STATIONS, HELLO ALL STATIONS
THIS IS
CESSNA CHARLIE FOXTROT NOVEMBER JULIETT INDIA
CESSNA CHARLIE FOXTROT NOVEMBER JULIETT INDIA HAS BEEN
POSITIONED AT 20 MILES SOUTH OF WINNIPEG AIRPORT
PROCEEDING NORMALLY
CESSNA CHARLIE FOXTROT NOVEMBER JULIETT INDIA
OUT

7. Safety Communications

7.1 Safety Signal

The safety signal is used mainly in the maritime mobile service. It indicates that the station calling is about to transmit a message concerning the safety of navigation or important meteorological warnings.

The safety signal is the word "SECURITE" spoken three times and pronounced as in French. It should be used at the beginning of the first communication.

The safety signal and the safety message may be addressed to "ALL STATIONS" or to a specific station.

7.2 Priority

The safety signal has priority over all other communications except distress and urgency.

Stations that hear the safety signal shall continue to listen on the frequency on which the message was transmitted until they are satisfied that the message is of no interest to them.

All stations that hear the safety signal must take care not to interfere with the safety message that follows it.

7.3 Safety Message

The safety message should contain as many of the following elements and, if possible, in the following order:

  1. the safety signal "SECURITE" (three times);
  2. the name of the station addressed or "ALL STATIONS" (repeated three times);
  3. the words "THIS IS";
  4. the name or call sign of the station sending the message;
  5. the nature of the condition;
  6. the name or call sign of the station sending the message.

Example:

SECURITE, SECURITE, SECURITE
ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS
THIS IS
VANCOUVER RADIO
NOTICE TO ALL VESSELS IN THE MERRY ISLAND AREA
LOG BOOM ADRIFT AND BREAKING UP SIX MILES SOUTH
OF MERRY ISLAND
VANCOUVER RADIO
OUT

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