🔍 Key Concepts

• International aeronautical maritime search and rescue signals between aircraft and surface vessels • Meaning of an aircraft circling and crossing ahead while rocking wings • Distinction between signals indicating distress in a direction vs danger ahead

💭 Think About

• Ask what an aircraft is most likely trying to communicate when it makes repeated passes, crosses close ahead, and then clearly departs on a specific heading. • Think about whether the signal is telling you to avoid an area, to help someone, or to prepare to receive something. • Compare which options describe a direction to proceed versus a warning to stay clear and which better matches the aircraft’s clear, purposeful departure.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify what the combination of circling, crossing ahead, and rocking wings is defined to mean in standard air‑sea signaling tables. • Check which official signal indicates “proceed in this direction to render assistance” versus which indicates “danger area – avoid”. • Confirm whether any standard signal for package drops involves circling three times and then departing on a steady heading.