Tuesday, November 10, 2026 · Morning warm-up
Capt. Mike's Question of the Day.
Two questions for the Transport Canada pilot written exams every day: a morning warm-up and an evening Captain's Challenge. Each one answered, explained and cited, free. Tap your answer to see how you did.
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Capt. Mike: Here's the question I asked that day. Tap your answer.
The radiotelephone distress signal to indicate serious and/or imminent danger requiring immediate assistance is
Question 3.18 of TP 11919E, Department of Transport, Canada; reproduced with the Department's permission.
TC's answer
1MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY.
Explanation
TC AIM SAR 4.1: "Distress—A condition of being threatened by serious and/or imminent danger and requiring immediate assistance… The radiotelephone distress signal, MAYDAY … must be used", preferably spoken 3 times (SAR 4.2(a)). RIC-21 6.7: a distress call begins with the distress signal MAYDAY, spoken three times.
Memory tip: MAYDAY = 'm'aidez' (help me) — immediate help needed.
Source
TC AIM SAR 4.1 and 4.2 (October 1, 2026); RIC-21 Study Guide for the Restricted Operator Certificate with Aeronautical Qualification (ROC-A), Issue 3, February 2010 (Industry Canada, now ISED) 6.4 and 6.7.
Question 3.18 of TP 11919E, Study and Reference Guide: Student Pilot Permit or Private Pilot Licence for Foreign and Military Applicants, Aviation Regulations (7th ed., December 2022), Department of Transport, Canada; reproduced with the Department's permission. The keyed answer agrees with Transport Canada's published answer key (December 2022); the explanation is TC Exam Prep's.
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