{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/air-navigation-overseas-territories-order-2001/schedule-13/paragraph-49",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/air-navigation-overseas-territories-order-2001/schedule-13/paragraph-49.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/2001/2128",
  "legislation_title": "The Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order 2001",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/air-navigation-overseas-territories-order-2001",
  "path": "schedule/13/paragraph/49",
  "kind": "paragraph",
  "number": "49",
  "heading": "Distress, urgency and safety signals",
  "text": "(1) The following signals, given either together or separately before the sending of a message, signify that an aircraft is threatened by grave and imminent danger and requests immediate assistance:\n(a) by radiotelephony:\nthe spoken word “MAYDAY”;\n(b) by visual signalling:\n(i) the signal SOS ( ... – – – ... );\n(ii) a succession of pyrotechnic lights fired at short intervals each showing a single red light;\n(iii) a parachute flare showing a red light;\n(c) by sound signalling other than radiotelephony:\n(i) the signal SOS ( ... – – – ... );\n(ii) a continuous sounding with any sound apparatus.\n(2) The following signals, given either together or separately, before the sending of a message, signify that the commander of the aircraft wishes to give notice of difficulties which compel it to land but that he does not require immediate assistance:\n(a) a succession of white pyrotechnic lights;\n(b) the repeated switching on and off of the aircraft landing lights;\n(c) the repeated switching on and off of its navigation lights, in such a manner as to be clearly distinguishable from the flashing navigation lights described in rule 11.\n(3) The following signals, given either together or separately, indicate that the commander of the aircraft has an urgent message to transmit concerning the safety of a ship, aircraft, vehicle or other property or of a person on board or within sight of the aircraft from which the signal is given:\n(a) by radiotelephony:\nthe repeated spoken word, “PAN PAN”;\n(b) by visual signalling:\nthe signal XXX ( – .. – – .. – – .. – );\n(c) by sound signalling other than radiotelephony:\nthe signal XXX ( – .. – – .. – – .. – ).",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "substituted",
      "affecting": "uksi/2004/2038",
      "affecting_title": "The Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) (Amendment) Order 2004"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/2128/schedule/13/paragraph/49",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T07:46:58.719336+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}