On Sat, 24 Feb 2007 08:07:44 -0800, The Visitor wrote
(in article ):



C J Campbell wrote:
The pilot declared low fuel.

Well that's it then isn't it. That allowed him to get priority handling
with no fruther delays. And that's what he got.

Pilots still are shy about saying something is an emergency, but a low
fuel declaration is something specific and not an emergency(yet).

There is some sort of myth that a pilot has to say the magic words "declaring
an emergency" before it becomes an emergency in the eyes of either the FAA or
the pilot or the law. There is no such requirement. What if the pilot passes
out? Is it not an emergency just because the pilot doesn't say it is? When
you are low fuel and require special handling, it is an emergency, whether
anyone has actually 'declared' it or not. Same thing with fires, control
failures, or anything else that is an unplanned threat to life or property
that requires action to avoid it.

It is a good idea to tell ATC that you have an emergency, but doing so may
not always be practical or even possible. Besides, some things are just
understood to be emergencies, like being so low on fuel that flying a normal
approach and landing might be unsuccessful.

When you are low fuel and need special handling, it is an emergency, whether
you specifically say it is or not. If you were to tell ATC that you were on
fire, they should treat it as an emergency whether you 'declare' one or not.
If you say you have runaway trim, a hijacker, or a large flying octopus that
has covered your entire windshield, it is an emergency, whether you 'declare'
one or not. An unruly passenger grabbing for the controls is an emergency.
Losing all your hydraulic fluid is an emergency. Landing with a flat tire is
an emergency (hint: the checklist is in the "EMERGENCY PROCEDURES" section of
the POH). A passenger that passes out is an emergency.
There are many types of emergencies, with many different probabilities of
someone being hurt or killed, but they are all emergencies. Not all
emergencies have to be reported. Many emergencies are easily dealt with. But
they remain emergencies nonetheless.

--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor