Radio Regulations

Source: the Radio Regulations published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

ART

44

Order of priority of communications

RR-2024 · in force CHAPTER VIII — Aeronautical services

§ 1 The order of priority for communications in the aeronautical mobile service and the aeronautical mobile-satellite service shall be as follows, except where impracticable in a fully automated system in which, nevertheless, Category 1 shall receive priority:

1 Distress calls, distress messages and distress traffic.

2 Communications preceded by the urgency signal.

3 Communications relating to radio direction-finding.

4 Flight safety messages.

5 Meteorological messages.

6 Flight regularity messages.

7 Messages relating to the application of the United Nations Charter.

8 Government messages for which priority has been expressly requested.

9 Service communications relating to the working of the telecommunication service or to communications previously exchanged.

10 Other aeronautical communications.

§ 2 Categories 1 and 2 shall receive priority over all other communications irrespective of any agreement under the provisions of No. 35.1.

Notes

44.1

Source: ITU Radio Regulations, editions of 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024. The English, French and Spanish texts are each taken from the official edition in that language, not translated from one another. Sources and citation.