When should you use the heavy and super callsigns?
That doesn't mean it's ok to be in a skyhawk with “heavy” in your Callsign, but ATC won't bother you if you do. Yep SUPER is used exclusively for the A380, whilst HEAVY is for Wide-body Aircraft and the B757.
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Boeing aircraft like 747, 777 and 787, and Airbus birds like A300; A330; and A350 are classified into the heavy aircraft category with a maximum take-off weight exceeding 300,000 pounds. Hence, these large aircraft leave strong wake turbulence.
Aircraft Call SignsFor example, a pilot flying a large transport aircraft might be given the call sign “Heavy,” while a pilot flying a fighter jet might be given the call sign “Eagle” or “Hornet.” This is also true for commercial aviation.
In the UK, official call signs are typically allocated to squadrons or specific flights, meaning that a particular call sign might apply to different pilots at different times depending on the aircraft or mission they are flying.
Weighing 181,840 kg (401,000 lb), including 20,980 kg (46,300 lb) of test equipment, the A330 became the largest twinjet to have flown until the first flight of the Boeing 777.
The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner that was designed and built by Boeing. The B753 is member of the B757 family of aircraft. Note: Common practice is to consider B757 as 'HEAVY' (H) for the purpose of assessing wake turbulence generated by this aircraft.
Sometimes, a pilot may be given a call sign by their superior commanding officers, colleagues, or even the general public. These call signs are often based on the pilot. For example, a pilot known for exceptional skill or bravery may be given a call sign reflecting their reputation.
Pan-Pan, short for “possible assistance needed,” is used to communicate an urgent, but not emergency, situation over VHF radio, in the case of aviation, to air traffic control. Examples could include a recreational pilot getting lost, or perhaps needing to climb to a higher altitude to sort a problem out.