gsGroundScholar
Sign in
Declaring an Emergency

AIM ¶ 6-1-2 — Declaring an Emergency

AIM 6-1-2 explains distress vs urgency conditions and why pilots should request assistance immediately. Study guide for checkride and oral exam prep.

In Plain English

AIM 6-1-2 reminds pilots that an emergency falls into one of two categories defined in the Pilot/Controller Glossary:

  • Distress — immediate, serious danger requiring urgent assistance (e.g., fire, mechanical failure, structural damage).
  • Urgency — a situation concerning safety that is not immediately perilous but is potentially catastrophic.

Most pilots don't hesitate to declare a distress emergency. The bigger problem is reluctance to declare an urgency when something feels off. The AIM is clear: the moment you become doubtful about position, fuel endurance, weather, or any other condition affecting safety, you are already in at least an urgency condition — and that's the time to ask for help, not after it deteriorates into distress.

Help is available through radio, radar, direction finding (DF) stations, and other aircraft. The AIM stresses that delay has caused accidents and cost lives. While the AIM is informational rather than regulatory, the message is operational: when in doubt, declare early and ask for assistance. Safety is not a luxury.

AIM Source Text
FAA AIM ¶ 6-1-2
6-1-2. 6-1-2. Emergency Condition- Request Assistance Immediately An emergency can be either a distress or urgency condition as defined in the Pilot/Controller Glossary. Pilots do not hesitate to declare an emergency when they are faced with distress conditions such as fire, mechanical failure, or structural damage. However, some are reluctant to report an urgency condition when they encounter situations which may not be immediately perilous, but are potentially catastrophic. An aircraft is in at least an urgency condition the moment the pilot becomes doubtful about position, fuel endurance, weather, or any other condition that could adversely affect flight safety. This is the time to ask for help, not after the situation has developed into a distress condition. Pilots who become apprehensive for their safety for any reason should request assistance immediately. Ready and willing help is available in the form of radio, radar, direction finding stations and other aircraft. Delay has caused accidents and cost lives. Safety is not a luxury! Take action! Previous | Top | Next AIM | ATPUBS | FAA | Send your comments regarding this website.
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What are the two categories of emergency defined in the AIM, and how do they differ?
Per AIM 6-1-2, an emergency is either a distress or urgency condition as defined in the Pilot/Controller Glossary. Distress involves immediately perilous situations like fire, mechanical failure, or structural damage. Urgency involves situations that are not immediately perilous but are potentially catastrophic and could adversely affect flight safety.
Q2At what point is an aircraft considered to be in at least an urgency condition?
Per AIM 6-1-2, an aircraft is in at least an urgency condition the moment the pilot becomes doubtful about position, fuel endurance, weather, or any other condition that could adversely affect flight safety. That is the time to request assistance — not after it develops into a distress condition.
Q3What sources of assistance does the AIM identify for a pilot in an emergency?
Per AIM 6-1-2, ready and willing help is available in the form of radio, radar, direction finding (DF) stations, and other aircraft. The AIM emphasizes that pilots should request assistance immediately whenever they become apprehensive for their safety.
Related Paragraphs in AIM Chapter 6
6-1-1
PIC Emergency Authority
Master the AIM
Stop guessing. Drill it.

Adaptive questions tied to the live AIM + FAR. Mock checkrides predict your DPE pass rate.

5 questions/day free • No credit card
AIM 6-1-2 — Declaring an Emergency