How many souls on board

[missmuffet]

Has anyone ever heard the term "How many souls on board referring to an airplane going down?" I have looked up the term and I have gotten many responses.

The use of "souls on board" dates back to a time when people were more overtly concerned with death and the afterlife - under Roman Catholic rites, the majority of Europe, then.

People believed they should die in a state of grace, prepared for heaven, to make final confession and receive extreme unction. The church does allow for accidental or untimely death, but most believed that if they were not in a state of grace, their souls would be consigned to limbo.

So "souls on board" means literally that, and from it comes "save our souls".

This is one.

Specifying "souls on board" eliminates confusion over who is crew, who are paying passengers, who are adults or children, etc. It's a tool that helps emergency crews understand *exactly* how many people are on the plane.

At some foreign airports (Dakar comes to mind) ATC will ask for the total number of "souls" prior to push-back.

This is another.

Also the term SOS when someone is in danger.Does this mean Save Our Souls?

[Willa]

SOS probably should mean save our souls. I always heard it meant save our ship.

[The_Patriot21]

SOS does not actually stand for anything. It was created in the days of morsecode, as a simple, easy to remember distress call-the morse code for mayday, was long, and hard to remember, and only those fluent in morse code could remember it, so they made SOS the standard distress call in morse code, and taught the entire crew on a ship what it was, it was simple, easy to remember, and easy to recognize over a radio frequency, and in all languages. It was not chosen because it meant anything-it was chosen because of its ease of transmission and the distinctive sound which is easily recognized in all languages. (. . . --- . . .) People did not invent "save our souls" or "save our ship" until sometime after SOS was made.

[ncn]

SOS does not actually stand for anything. It was created in the days of morse code, as a simple, easy to remember distress call-the morse code for mayday, was long, and hard to remember, and only those fluent in morse code could remember it, so they made SOS the standard distress call in morse code, and taught the entire crew on a ship what it was, it was simple, easy to remember, and easy to recognize over a radio frequency, and in all languages. It was not chosen because it meant anything-it was chosen because of its ease of transmission and the distinctive sound which is easily recognized in all languages. (. . . --- . . .) People did not invent "save our souls" or "save our ship" until sometime after SOS was made.

"CQD" preceded the use of "SOS."

Besides "CQD" and "SOS," "XXX" was used as an urgent signal, being less urgent than "SOS." "XXX" was used when there was concern for the safety of a ship or the safety of person on board or a person sighted from on board. "TTT" was used as a safety signal to precede ice, storm and other navigational warnings including coastal artillery practice. "MEDICO" was used by ships without a doctor seeking medical advice from another ship or shore station. During W.W.II, the signal "SSSS" was used for "submarine sited".

If interested you can read more here. http://www.telegraph-office.com/pages/arc2-2.html

[Jean74]

Always thought that SOS in the sense of a cruise or boat going down or being stranded does mean Save our Ship. As it is very urgent for rescuers to come and rescue those stranded! But never heard that for planes until the OP mentioned it. Did not know that CQD preceded SOS! Interesting fact ncn!

[missmuffet]

SOS does not actually stand for anything. It was created in the days of morse code, as a simple, easy to remember distress call-the morse code for mayday, was long, and hard to remember, and only those fluent in morse code could remember it, so they made SOS the standard distress call in morse code, and taught the entire crew on a ship what it was, it was simple, easy to remember, and easy to recognize over a radio frequency, and in all languages. It was not chosen because it meant anything-it was chosen because of its ease of transmission and the distinctive sound which is easily recognized in all languages. (. . . --- . . .) People did not invent "save our souls" or "save our ship" until sometime after SOS was made.

"CQD" preceded the use of "SOS."

Besides "CQD" and "SOS," "XXX" was used as an urgent signal, being less urgent than "SOS." "XXX" was used when there was concern for the safety of a ship or the safety of person on board or a person sighted from on board. "TTT" was used as a safety signal to precede ice, storm and other navigational warnings including coastal artillery practice. "MEDICO" was used by ships without a doctor seeking medical advice from another ship or shore station. During W.W.II, the signal "SSSS" was used for "submarine sited".

If interested you can read more here. http://www.telegraph...ges/arc2-2.html

Interesting facts.Thanks for sharing.