Final answer:
Selecting EMER on an aircraft audio panel prioritizes emergency communication channels and minimizes distractions, allowing pilots to focus on managing the situation effectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a pilot selects EMER (short for emergency) on the audio panel in an aircraft cockpit, this action typically overrides the normal audio routing to prioritize critical communication channels. This function is designed to ensure that the pilots can immediately access emergency communication channels, such as the aircraft's emergency frequency, without having to manually select or tune it. This setting can also be used to isolate certain communication or navigation audio paths to minimize distractions during an emergency situation. On some aircraft, the EMER setting may also activate a specific set of procedures, providing the pilots with immediate reference to vital communication channels and necessary protocols to handle the emergency effectively.