The term "mayday" was conceived by Frederick Stanley Mockford, an officer-in-charge of radio at Croydon Airport, England, in the early 1920s. Mockford was tasked with thinking of a word that would indicate distress and be easily understood by all pilots and ground staff in an emergency. Given the significant air traffic between Croydon and Le Bourget Airport in Paris, Mockford proposed the term "mayday," the phonetic equivalent of the French "m'aider," a short form of "venez m'aider," meaning "come and help me."

The Introduction of Mayday

Following tests, the new procedure word was introduced for cross-Channel flights in February 1923. Mayday replaced the previous distress call, the Morse code signal SOS, which was not considered suitable for voice communication due to the difficulty of distinguishing the letter "S" by telephone. In 1927, the International Radiotelegraph Convention of Washington, D.C. adopted the voice call "mayday" as the radiotelephone distress call, in addition to the SOS radiotelegraph (Morse code) signal. Today, Mayday is an internationally recognized distress signal used to signal life-threatening emergencies, primarily by aviators and mariners.

When to Use Mayday

Mayday is used in situations where there is a grave and imminent threat to the safety of a vessel or aircraft, requiring immediate assistance. This can include emergencies such as fire, explosion, sinking, or medical emergencies. When a Mayday call is made, it is essential to provide as much information as possible, including the nature of the emergency, the vessel's or aircraft's position, and the number of people on board.

The Format of a Mayday Call

The format for a Mayday call typically includes crucial information to facilitate a swift and effective response. A standard Mayday call would begin with "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday," followed by the name of the station being addressed. The caller would then provide their aircraft or vessel call sign and type, describe the nature of the emergency, and report the current weather conditions. Additionally, they would state their intentions or requests, provide their present position and heading, specify their altitude or flight level, and indicate the fuel remaining in minutes. The number of people on board would also be reported, along with any other relevant details that might aid in the rescue efforts.

Consequences of False Distress Calls

Making a false distress call is a serious offense and can result in significant consequences, including fines, restitution, and possible imprisonment. It is essential to use the Mayday signal only in genuine emergency situations.

Other Distress Signals

In addition to Mayday, there are other distress signals and calls for help that can be used in emergency situations. These include:

- Pan-pan: indicates an urgent situation, such as a mechanical failure or medical problem, that is not life-threatening
- Seelonce mayday: a demand that the channel only be used by the vessel or authorities involved with the distress
- Seelonce feenee: indicates that the emergency situation has been concluded and the channel may be used normally

Mayday is a vital distress signal that has been used for nearly a century to signal life-threatening emergencies. Its history and significance underscore the importance of clear and effective communication in emergency situations. By understanding the proper use of Mayday and other distress signals, we can ensure that help arrives quickly and efficiently in times of need.