Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 49 Part 2.djvu/509

TELECOMMUNICATION CONVENTION. DECEMBER 9,1932. 2525 f76] (2) Aircraft.- Any aircraft in distress must transmit the distress call on the watching-wave of the fixed or mobile stations likely to help it: 500 kc (600 m) for stations of the maritime service, 333 kc (900 m) for stations of the aeronautical service [except as indicated in art. 9, § 10 (2)]. The waves to be used are type A2 orA3. C. DISTRESS SIGNAL f76] § 4. (1) In radiotelegraphy, the distress signal shall consist of the group ••• - - - ••• ; in radiotelephony, the distress signal shall consist of the spoken expression MAYDAY (corresponding to the French pronunciation of the expression "m 'aider "). f 771 (2) These distress signals shall announce that the ship, aircraft, or any other vehicle which sends the distress signal is threat- ened by serious and imminent danger and requests immediate assistance. D. DISTRESS CALL Ant~. p. 2480 . Distress signal. [Z78] § 5. (1) The distress call, when sent in radiotelegraphy on 500 Distress clill. kc (600 m) shall, as a general rule, be immediately preceded by the alarm signal as the latter is defined in § 21 (1). r78] (2) When circumstances permit, the transmission of the call shall be separated from the end of the alarm signal by a 2-minute silence. rsoJ (3) The distress call shall include: the distress signal transmitted three times, the word DE, and the call signal of the mobile station in distress transmitted three times. [381] (4) This call shall have absolute priority over other trans- missions. All stations hearing it must immediately cease all trans- mission capable of interfering with the distress traffic, and must listen on the wave used for the distress call. This call must not be sent to any particular station and does not require an acknowledgment of receipt. E. DISTRESS MESSAGE [382] § 6. (1) The distress call must be followed as soon as possible Distress messa,e. by the distress message. This message shall include the distress call followed by the name of the ship, aircraft, or the vehicle in distress, information regarding the position of the latter, the nature of the distress and the nature of the help requested, and any other further information which might facilitate this assistance. [383] (2) When, after having sent its distress message, an air. craJt is unable to signal its position, it shall endeavor to send its call signal long enough so that the radio direction-finding stations may determine its position.