Why do we say certain things *three times*, e.g., “Mayday. Mayday. Mayday”?












1















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?










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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
    2 hours ago
















1















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?










share|improve this question























  • 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
    2 hours ago














1












1








1








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?










share|improve this question














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






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asked 4 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
    2 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
    2 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
2 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
2 hours ago










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.






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    1














    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!”






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      2 Answers
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      active

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      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

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      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

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      2














      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.






      share|improve this answer








      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.

























        2














        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.






        share|improve this answer








        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.























          2












          2








          2







          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.






          share|improve this answer








          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.







          share|improve this answer








          New contributor




          Scotty is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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          share|improve this answer






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          answered 3 hours ago









          ScottyScotty

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              1














              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!”






              share|improve this answer








              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.

























                1














                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!”






                share|improve this answer








                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.























                  1












                  1








                  1







                  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!”






                  share|improve this answer








                  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!”







                  share|improve this answer








                  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.









                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer






                  New contributor




                  Paul Willett is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                  answered 4 hours ago









                  Paul WillettPaul Willett

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                  111




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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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