AIM

7/26/12

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General

Chapter 6. Emergency Procedures

Section 1. General

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1. Pilot Responsibility and Authority

a.

The pilot

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in

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command of an aircraft is directly

responsible for and is the final authority as to the
operation of that aircraft. In an emergency requiring
immediate action, the pilot

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in

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command may

deviate from any rule in 14 CFR Part 91, Subpart A,
General, and Subpart B, Flight Rules, to the extent
required to meet that emergency.

REFERENCE

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14 CFR Section 91.3(b).

b.

If the emergency authority of 14 CFR

Section 91.3(b) is used to deviate from the provisions
of an ATC clearance, the pilot

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in

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command must

notify ATC as soon as possible and obtain an
amended clearance.

c.

Unless deviation is necessary under the

emergency authority of 14 CFR Section 91.3, pilots
of IFR flights experiencing two-way radio commu-
nications failure are expected to adhere to the
procedures prescribed under “IFR operations,
two-way radio communications failure.”

REFERENCE

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14 CFR Section 91.185.

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2. Emergency Condition

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 Request

Assistance Immediately

a.

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.

b.

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!