The MayDay Guidelines

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) instructs the pilots to follow the exact emergency response which includes information on the station, aircraft call sign, type of emergency and current position.

The signal is used with caution and anyone who abuses the system can be jailed for ten years and fined heftily. Pilots usually repeat the word three times so the other transmissions that may mention mayday about the same emergency do not distract the listener.