On 03 Aug 2005 19:25:01 -0400, (Frank Ch. Eigler)
wrote:


"Kev" writes:

[...] For example, remember Swiss Air 111 that caught fire and then
crashed off Newfoundland before they could land? (Basically because
they followed the book and circled dumping fuel... so as not to be
over landing weight... but the time wasted doing that killed them
all.) [...]

I recall reading, probably in the official accident analysis report,
that this speculation is not actually true. Something like the fire
would have still consumed the cockpit by the time they'd landed, even
right away, over-gross.

- FChE

The UK R/T Manual states the following:

States of Emergency are classified as follows:

Distress: A condition of being threatened by serious and/or imminetn
danger and requiring immediate assistance.

Urgency: A condition concerning the safety of an aircraft or other
vehicle, or of some person on board or within sight, but does not
require immediate assistance.

The pilot should make the appropriate emergency call as follows:
Distress: 'Mayday, Mayday, Mayday'
Urgency: 'Pan. Pan, Pan'.