CA.III.A.R2FAA-S-ACS-7B · Nov 2023Risk management
Deciding if and when to declare an emergency.
Deciding if and when to declare an emergency.
Bottom line
Some pilots are reluctant to report an urgency condition when they encounter situations which may not be immediately perilous but are potentially catastrophic. Delay in requesting assistance has caused accidents and cost lives. When a situation is potentially catastrophic but not immediately perilous, ask for help then, not after the situation has developed into a distress condition.
FAA references
- AIM 6-1-2 (Emergency Condition- Request Assistance Immediately) — AIM Basic 2/20/25 w/ Change 1 (8/7/25) & Change 2 (1/22/26)
- AIM 6-3-2 (Obtaining Emergency Assistance) — AIM Basic 2/20/25 w/ Change 1 (8/7/25) & Change 2 (1/22/26)
- PHAK ch. 14 (p. 14-2) — FAA-H-8083-25C (2023)
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