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I don't think English would be the barrier. My parents would have known SOS decades ago, and I don't come from an English-speaking country.

I am from Europe, though, so I don't know if it might be more specific to Western culture. Although I also imagine pilots would have more of an exposure through either experience or education.

>Is SOS known to all cultures?

At least all cultures who listen to ABBA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvChjHcABPA

English is the international language for aviation. All pilots speak English to a required standard.

"No, I can't read what it says. Let's fly ahead." :)

Well, yeah. But then any message would work. The person I was responding to said you should write SOS or HELP instead of the international air codes for help (X or V), which any pilot is almost certain to know.