Sec. 80.327  Urgency signals.

    (a) The urgency signal indicates that the calling station has a very 
urgent message to transmit concerning the safety of a ship, aircraft, or 
other vehicle, or the safety of a person. The urgency signal must be 
sent only on the authority of the master or person responsible for the 
mobile station.
    (b) In radiotelegraphy, the urgency signal consists of three 
repetitions of the group XXX, sent with the individual letters of each 
group, and the successive groups clearly separated from each other. It 
must be transmitted before the call.
    (c) In radiotelephony, the urgency signal consists of three oral 
repetitions of the group of words PAN PAN transmitted before the call.
    (d) The urgency signal has priority over all other communications 
except distress. All mobile and land stations which hear it must not 
interfere with the transmission of the message which follows the urgency 
signal.
[ 51 FR 31213 , Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at  52 FR 35245 , Sept. 18, 1987]