FlyCurrentFLYCURRENT
AI.XI.A.R2FAA-S-ACS-25 · Nov 2023Risk management

When to seek assistance or declare an emergency in a deteriorating situation.

ACS element text (the applicant demonstrates understanding of)

When to seek assistance or declare an emergency in a deteriorating situation.

Bottom line

In a deteriorating chain of events, each poor decision leaves the pilot with fewer and fewer options. In a critical situation during any flight, declaring an emergency results in additional assistance and priority handling. Declare any emergency on the last assigned ATC frequency; if one was not issued, transmit on the emergency frequency 121.5 and set the transponder to the emergency squawk code 7700.

FAA references

  1. AIH ch. 1 (p. 1-20) — FAA-H-8083-9B
  2. AFH ch. 5, UPRT Training Core Concepts (p. 5-5) — FAA-H-8083-3C
  3. IPH App. A (p. A-3) — FAA-H-8083-16B
  4. AIH ch. 1 (p. 1-25) — FAA-H-8083-9B
  5. PHAK ch. 2 (p. 2-23) — FAA-H-8083-25C (2023)
  6. AFH ch. 2 (p. 2-14) — FAA-H-8083-3C
  7. RMH ch. 1 (pp. 1-2–1-3) — FAA-H-8083-2A
  8. IFH ch. 8 (pp. 8-16–8-17) — FAA-H-8083-15B
  9. RMH ch. 6 (p. 6-4) — FAA-H-8083-2A
Members lesson

Build understanding you can use

Unlock the full lesson and continue studying this element.

  • Full teaching sections: Hazard; How it shows up; Decision rules; Mitigations; The hazard
  • Check your understanding with answers you can reveal
View membership options