ATLANTA - Two Chicago Center controllers guided the pilot of
a plane with icing conditions, a lost localizer and low fuel to a safe landing.
A team of three Seattle Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) controllers
directed the pilot of a plane that had run out of fuel at 3,200 feet to the
nearest airport. A Denver Center controller saved the life of a pilot and his
wife by instructing the pilot's wife to an emergency landing route after the
pilot became incapacitated from lack of oxygen during the plane's ascent.
These three remarkable flights assists, and seven others from
around the country were honored at the National Air Traffic Controllers
Association's (NATCA) eighth annual Archie League Medal of Safety Awards
banquet, part of NATCA's annual safety conference.
Named for the first air traffic controller, the NATCA Archie League Medal of
Safety Awards honor the top skill, dedication and professionalism that NATCA
members exemplified in 2011 in the pursuit to save lives in emergency
situations.
"I congratulate each of the winners for their incredible
performance during these unpredictable situations to make sure they ended
safely," said NATCA President Paul Rinaldi. "They each displayed the
professionalism, composure and quick-thinking that defines our profession, and
I am so proud they are a part of the NATCA family."
2012 Honorees are:
ALASKAN REGION: Kristina Kurtz, Anchorage TRACON
CENTRAL REGION: Todd Mariani, Kansas City Center
EASTERN REGION: Matt Reed, Potomac TRACON
GREAT LAKES REGION: Guy Lieser, Steve McGreevy, Chicago Center
NEW ENGLAND REGION: Chris Henchey, Ryan Workman, Boston Center
NORTHWEST MOUNTAIN REGION: Charlie Rohrer, Denver Center; Ken Greenwood, Josh Haviland, Ryan Herrick, Seattle TRACON
SOUTHERN REGION: Alvin Kent, Atlanta Center
SOUTHWEST REGION: Frank Fisher, Greg Fleetwood, Corpus Christi Tower/TRACON
WESTERN PACIFIC REGION: Kevin McLaughlin, Southern California TRACON
Click this link to read about the winners, their flight
assists, and to listen to audio recordings from each of the 10 flight assists:http://www.natca.org/archie_league_awards.aspx#content
-Staff Report, FMI: natca.org