Why do we say certain things *three times*, e.g., “Mayday. Mayday. Mayday”?
Repetition is a key characteristic of communication in the control tower, cockpit, and control room. Some phrases, like "Mayday" get repeated. The speaker says the same thing three times.
Why three times?
Is there research suggesting three is the most effective number, or is there a historical reason for the convention?
safety radio-communications
asked 5 hours ago
Mark Jones Jr.Mark Jones Jr.
709317
add a comment |
Repetition is a key characteristic of communication in the control tower, cockpit, and control room. Some phrases, like "Mayday" get repeated. The speaker says the same thing three times.
Why three times?
Is there research suggesting three is the most effective number, or is there a historical reason for the convention?
safety radio-communications
asked 5 hours ago
Mark Jones Jr.Mark Jones Jr.
709317
It sounds like you're asking why three, rather than two or four. In other words, you're not just asking "why do we say it three times"; you're asking "why is three the number of times that we say it". Is that right?
– Tanner Swett
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Repetition is a key characteristic of communication in the control tower, cockpit, and control room. Some phrases, like "Mayday" get repeated. The speaker says the same thing three times.
Why three times?
Is there research suggesting three is the most effective number, or is there a historical reason for the convention?
safety radio-communications
asked 5 hours ago
Mark Jones Jr.Mark Jones Jr.
709317
Repetition is a key characteristic of communication in the control tower, cockpit, and control room. Some phrases, like "Mayday" get repeated. The speaker says the same thing three times.
Why three times?
Is there research suggesting three is the most effective number, or is there a historical reason for the convention?
safety radio-communications
safety radio-communications
asked 5 hours ago
Mark Jones Jr.Mark Jones Jr.
709317
asked 5 hours ago
Mark Jones Jr.Mark Jones Jr.
709317
asked 5 hours ago
Mark Jones Jr.Mark Jones Jr.
709317
asked 5 hours ago
Mark Jones Jr.Mark Jones Jr.
709317
asked 5 hours ago
Mark Jones Jr.Mark Jones Jr.
709317
709317
It sounds like you're asking why three, rather than two or four. In other words, you're not just asking "why do we say it three times"; you're asking "why is three the number of times that we say it". Is that right?
– Tanner Swett
3 hours ago
add a comment |
It sounds like you're asking why three, rather than two or four. In other words, you're not just asking "why do we say it three times"; you're asking "why is three the number of times that we say it". Is that right?
– Tanner Swett
3 hours ago
It sounds like you're asking why three, rather than two or four. In other words, you're not just asking "why do we say it three times"; you're asking "why is three the number of times that we say it". Is that right?
– Tanner Swett
3 hours ago
It sounds like you're asking why three, rather than two or four. In other words, you're not just asking "why do we say it three times"; you're asking "why is three the number of times that we say it". Is that right?
– Tanner Swett
3 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
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Yep, the critical commands are repeated 3 times. This insures there is ABSOLUTELY zero doubt in anyone's mind (especially on a big crew airplane) what needs to be done in a critical situation. It also standardizes these criticalities across different aircraft and aircrew cultures. "Bail out, bail out, bail out" "Eject, eject, eject" "Abort abort abort." "Pan, pan, pan." I was 27 years a USAF pilot, and this is how the training has worked for over 50 years. I only saw these terms used 2-3 times, but it certainly gets your attention and amps up the sense of urgency. A little history: back in the day of very poor radio communications, it was necessary to repeat to "get someone's attention" or in the event a single "mayday" didn't come across when the transmit button was pressed.
answered 3 hours ago
ScottyScotty
211
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There are no instances in normal conversation where the same word is repeated three times consecutively. In order to prevent a critical command or order from being issued or heard accidentally, a command is given three times in order to verify that it is being given intentionally.
Going to the moon? “Launch! Launch! Launch!”
answered 4 hours ago
Paul WillettPaul Willett
111
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Paul Willett is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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Yep, the critical commands are repeated 3 times. This insures there is ABSOLUTELY zero doubt in anyone's mind (especially on a big crew airplane) what needs to be done in a critical situation. It also standardizes these criticalities across different aircraft and aircrew cultures. "Bail out, bail out, bail out" "Eject, eject, eject" "Abort abort abort." "Pan, pan, pan." I was 27 years a USAF pilot, and this is how the training has worked for over 50 years. I only saw these terms used 2-3 times, but it certainly gets your attention and amps up the sense of urgency. A little history: back in the day of very poor radio communications, it was necessary to repeat to "get someone's attention" or in the event a single "mayday" didn't come across when the transmit button was pressed.
answered 3 hours ago
ScottyScotty
211
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Scotty is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Yep, the critical commands are repeated 3 times. This insures there is ABSOLUTELY zero doubt in anyone's mind (especially on a big crew airplane) what needs to be done in a critical situation. It also standardizes these criticalities across different aircraft and aircrew cultures. "Bail out, bail out, bail out" "Eject, eject, eject" "Abort abort abort." "Pan, pan, pan." I was 27 years a USAF pilot, and this is how the training has worked for over 50 years. I only saw these terms used 2-3 times, but it certainly gets your attention and amps up the sense of urgency. A little history: back in the day of very poor radio communications, it was necessary to repeat to "get someone's attention" or in the event a single "mayday" didn't come across when the transmit button was pressed.
answered 3 hours ago
ScottyScotty
211
New contributor
Scotty is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Yep, the critical commands are repeated 3 times. This insures there is ABSOLUTELY zero doubt in anyone's mind (especially on a big crew airplane) what needs to be done in a critical situation. It also standardizes these criticalities across different aircraft and aircrew cultures. "Bail out, bail out, bail out" "Eject, eject, eject" "Abort abort abort." "Pan, pan, pan." I was 27 years a USAF pilot, and this is how the training has worked for over 50 years. I only saw these terms used 2-3 times, but it certainly gets your attention and amps up the sense of urgency. A little history: back in the day of very poor radio communications, it was necessary to repeat to "get someone's attention" or in the event a single "mayday" didn't come across when the transmit button was pressed.
answered 3 hours ago
ScottyScotty
211
New contributor
Scotty is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Yep, the critical commands are repeated 3 times. This insures there is ABSOLUTELY zero doubt in anyone's mind (especially on a big crew airplane) what needs to be done in a critical situation. It also standardizes these criticalities across different aircraft and aircrew cultures. "Bail out, bail out, bail out" "Eject, eject, eject" "Abort abort abort." "Pan, pan, pan." I was 27 years a USAF pilot, and this is how the training has worked for over 50 years. I only saw these terms used 2-3 times, but it certainly gets your attention and amps up the sense of urgency. A little history: back in the day of very poor radio communications, it was necessary to repeat to "get someone's attention" or in the event a single "mayday" didn't come across when the transmit button was pressed.
answered 3 hours ago
ScottyScotty
211
New contributor
Scotty is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 3 hours ago
ScottyScotty
211
New contributor
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answered 3 hours ago
ScottyScotty
211
answered 3 hours ago
ScottyScotty
211
211
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add a comment |
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There are no instances in normal conversation where the same word is repeated three times consecutively. In order to prevent a critical command or order from being issued or heard accidentally, a command is given three times in order to verify that it is being given intentionally.
Going to the moon? “Launch! Launch! Launch!”
answered 4 hours ago
Paul WillettPaul Willett
111
New contributor
Paul Willett is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
There are no instances in normal conversation where the same word is repeated three times consecutively. In order to prevent a critical command or order from being issued or heard accidentally, a command is given three times in order to verify that it is being given intentionally.
Going to the moon? “Launch! Launch! Launch!”
answered 4 hours ago
Paul WillettPaul Willett
111
New contributor
Paul Willett is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
There are no instances in normal conversation where the same word is repeated three times consecutively. In order to prevent a critical command or order from being issued or heard accidentally, a command is given three times in order to verify that it is being given intentionally.
Going to the moon? “Launch! Launch! Launch!”
answered 4 hours ago
Paul WillettPaul Willett
111
New contributor
Paul Willett is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
There are no instances in normal conversation where the same word is repeated three times consecutively. In order to prevent a critical command or order from being issued or heard accidentally, a command is given three times in order to verify that it is being given intentionally.
Going to the moon? “Launch! Launch! Launch!”
answered 4 hours ago
Paul WillettPaul Willett
111
New contributor
Paul Willett is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 4 hours ago
Paul WillettPaul Willett
111
New contributor
Paul Willett is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 4 hours ago
Paul WillettPaul Willett
111
answered 4 hours ago
Paul WillettPaul Willett
111
111
New contributor
Paul Willett is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor
Paul Willett is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Paul Willett is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
add a comment |
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It sounds like you're asking why three, rather than two or four. In other words, you're not just asking "why do we say it three times"; you're asking "why is three the number of times that we say it". Is that right?
– Tanner Swett
3 hours ago