Engine Fire — MAYDAY & Immediate Return
advancedUK phraseologyAn engine fire just after departure. Transmit a full MAYDAY, request fire services, and read back the landing clearance — all with the brevity a fire demands. Learn when only "MAYDAY" will do and how to keep a distress call short and complete.
Briefing
You have just departed Cambridge (EGSC) runway 23 in PA-28 Golf Bravo Zulu Tango Echo, on Cambridge Tower 125.900. You see flames and smoke from the engine cowling. This is grave and imminent danger — transmit MAYDAY, return immediately, and get the fire services out.
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- Exchange 1
Declare the MAYDAY: prefix ×3, station, callsign, type and the nature of the emergency.
💡 An engine fire is grave and imminent danger — only "MAYDAY" ×3 is correct; downgrading to PAN understates the threat. Keep every word essential: prefix, station, callsign, type, nature.
- Exchange 2
State your intentions and request the fire services.
💡 State the intention (immediate return) AND the specific service you need (fire services / RFFS). Naming the runway lets the controller and the fire crews position for you.
- Exchange 3
Pass persons on board — brief and clear.
💡 Persons on board tells the fire crews how many people to account for. In a fire, be brief — pass only what saves lives and cut the rest.
- Exchange 4
ATC: “Golf Tango Echo, Cambridge Tower, roger MAYDAY, cleared to land runway two three, squawk seven seven zero zero, fire services alerted.”
Read back the landing clearance and squawk. Both are mandatory.
💡 Even in an emergency a landing clearance is read back in full, including the runway — this is the single most safety-critical readback in aviation.
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