When should a pilot declare MAYDAY versus seek priority?

• A. Declare MAYDAY for imminent or ongoing danger; seek priority otherwise when safety is advantaged but not critical.
• B. Declare MAYDAY for any unusual weather.
• C. Only declare MAYDAY when fuel is exhausted.
• D. Declaring MAYDAY is optional.

Answer: (A)

In radiocommunication, there are two levels of urgency: emergency and priority. Mayday is used only when there is imminent or ongoing danger to the aircraft or people on board and immediate assistance is required. If the situation is not yet an emergency but you need ATC to give you special handling or prioritise your route or landing, you request priority (often via a Pan-Pan or a direct request for priority) because safety is a concern but not yet critical.

That’s why the best approach is to declare Mayday when you are in distress or facing an immediate threat, and otherwise seek priority if you can still operate but require preferential treatment to maintain safety. The other options don’t fit because Mayday is not for routine weather, fuel state alone, or optional—it’s for real emergencies, while priority can be requested for non-emergency safety needs.