Controllers recognized for rising to challenges
NATCA, AOPA bestow awards
Air traffic controllers who assisted the pilot of a Beechcraft Bonanza running low on fuel as weather closed were among many honored by their peers—and by AOPA—for rendering effective professional assistance to pilots in need.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association convened in September for three days of safety education, keynotes, breakout sessions, and award presentations. Aviation leaders including FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker spoke about a variety of topics. The general session opened with a moving memorial tribute to Richard McSpadden, the former leader of AOPA’s Air Safety Institute, who died in an aircraft accident on October 1, 2023. (McSpadden received NATCA’s James L. Oberstar Sentinel of Safety Award in 2023.)
A team from NATCA’s Southern Region earned the additional distinction of receiving the President’s Award, judged by NATCA President Rich Santa to be the best save of the year.
The 2024 Archie League Medal of Safety Award honorees are summarized below, based on accounts provided by NATCA in the awards ceremony program:
Southern Region—President’s Award
Steven Brader, William Mitchell, Jaime Romaker
On March 1 the pilot of a Beechcraft A36 Bonanza flying to Tennessee from Texas on a VFR flight plan established radio communications with Nashville International Airport controller Jaime Romaker, reporting he was inbound to land at Smyrna Airport. A controller familiar with the weather at Smyrna advised Romaker that it was unlikely a VFR aircraft would be able to land there. Romaker advised the pilot of the updated weather, and learned the flight had about 45 minutes of fuel remaining. With nearby airports all reporting low ceilings, Romaker asked the pilot if he was IFR capable. When the pilot responded that he was not, Romaker immediately started looking for alternate destinations. Nashville, about 25 miles northeast, was reporting visual meteorological conditions.
The weather deteriorated as the flight approached Nashville, and the nearest airport with visual conditions was then about 40 miles from the Bonanza’s position. Considering the changing weather conditions and the low fuel state of the aircraft, these options were a risky choice. Romaker and the rest of the team then recommended Bomar Field/Shelbyville Municipal Airport, about 49 miles south of the aircraft’s position. While the pilot made his way to Shelbyville, the weather at John C. Tune Airport, which is 11 miles northwest of Nashville, became incrementally better, and weather reports indicated that there was a chance that a VFR aircraft would be able to make it through the cloud layer. Romaker gave the pilot a vector toward Tune Airport and then conducted a relief briefing with Nashville controller Will Mitchell.
Mitchell, a certificated commercial pilot with an instrument rating, discussed the options with the Bonanza’s pilot. It became clear that, even with breaks in the cloud layer, he was going to have to descend through instrument meteorological conditions. The initial plan that Mitchell and the pilot agreed to was to make a slow, spiral descent over the Tune Airport until the airport was in sight. Mitchell talked the pilot through each step of the process and worked to create a rapport with the pilot. Once the Bonanza was over Tune Airport, it started its descent. After several minutes, the Bonanza had only descended around 500 feet. Mitchell continued to advise the pilot what he was seeing on the radar and instructed him to continue to descend. After observing the Bonanza inadvertently climbing, Mitchell advised the pilot to level off and to fly straight and level. Realizing the spiral descent wasn’t viable, they devised a new plan with straighter lines and slow, easy turns. The pilot began descending at 300 feet per minute with Mitchell’s guidance. Mitchell asked the pilot if the ground was visible, but he reported still being in the clouds. Anticipating that the pilot would soon see through the clouds, Mitchell provided guidance that set up the aircraft for a stable approach. When the pilot reported being able to see the ground, Mitchell verified that he had the airport in sight and then cleared him to land. Airport controllers had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Bonanza and held all traffic until it landed safely.
Alaskan Region
Wayne Harper
The sun had set at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on February 1. Controller Wayne Harper was working the local and Lake Hood control positions. The airport was landing both parallel runways, 7R and 7L.
A McDonnell Douglas MD–11 crew became confused after landing on Runway 7R and lost track of where they were, partly because snow obscured runway lights, signs, and markings. Harper, detecting uncertainty in the MD–11 pilot’s voice, used the airport surface surveillance display to identify an impending runway collision with a Boeing 737 on final approach to runway 7L, and issued a go-around instruction that prevented a catastrophe.
Central Region
Anthony DeHaven, Cameron Haynes, Allison Healey, Tyler Spencer, Cody Wilkerson, William Wyatt
At approximately 7 p.m. on January 23, a U.S. Air Force Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker made multiple unsuccessful attempts to land at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas, before diverting to Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, where weather was so poor that tower controllers could not see the ground from their cab.
Approach controller Tyler Spencer declared an emergency after learning the crew had 30 minutes of fuel remaining, and handed the flight off to newly certificated controller William Wyatt, who realized the crew had lost position awareness and instructed them to climb and contact approach for another attempt.
Another unsuccessful attempt followed, but the aircraft was able to land on the third attempt, using position information provided by controllers to compensate for inoperative onboard navigation equipment and stabilize the approach. The aircraft landed with 12.8 minutes of fuel remaining.
Eastern Region
Brian Bernhardt, Jason Wilson
On the evening of February 18, Brian Bernhardt, a 23-year veteran controller, was working Philadelphia Approach while his colleague, Jason Wilson, worked in the tower cab. VFR conditions prevailed.
A Grumman Tiger pilot declared an emergency, reporting that he had lost his eyeglasses and was unable to read many of his instruments. The pilot requested radar vectors.
Bernhardt, a pilot, worked to determine the pilot’s limitations and capabilities, and guided the Tiger to Philadelphia International Airport, where Wilson took the handoff and cleared the Tiger to land between any set of parallel lights, having also cleared taxiways for a possible landing aircraft. The aircraft landed safely on runway 9R.
Great Lakes Region
Matthew Adair, Jennifer Harshbarger, Michael Phillips
On October 16, controller Michael Phillips was working at John Glenn Columbus International Airport, handling the Middletown approach control sector. It was a light traffic day with low ceilings covering most of central Ohio, when a call from Cincinnati Approach informed Phillips that an aircraft coming his way had reported a generator failure.
Phillips learned from the Cessna Super Skymaster pilot that the aircraft’s electrical system was failing, and taking the transponder and radio with it. Controllers worked as a team to clear the airspace and provide no-gyro guidance to a safe landing.
New England Region
Sarah O’Brien, Hanan Wiseman
Boston terminal radar approach controller Sarah O’Brien was working Boston Departure on a clear September evening in 2023 when she lost contact with a Cessna 182 transiting the Class B airspace VFR at 6,500 feet. O’Brien handed the no-radio aircraft to Bedford Sector controller Hanan Wiseman, and both soon noticed the aircraft in a spiral descent toward Laurence G. Hanscom Field in Bedford. Wiseman attempted to contact the flight on 121.5 MHz without success, and was communicating with another aircraft in the vicinity when the Skylane checked in via a portable radio to report the aircraft had lost all electrical power. Wiseman and O’Brien worked with tower controllers to guide the stricken aircraft to a safe landing at Hanscom Field.
Northwest Mountain Region
Jordan Smith
Jordan Smith guided a Southwest Airlines flight back to a safe emergency landing at Denver International Airport after the Boeing 737 struck an unknown object during climbout, and required a return.
Southwest Region
Amanda Alcantara, James Chipman, Daniel Keefe, Bryen Waltjen, Jeremy Willard
A Beechcraft Baron 58 reported engine trouble, and Dallas controller James “Chippy” Chipman worked quickly to assist with a rapidly deteriorating situation. Daniel Keefe and Jeremy Willard, both working as controllers-in-charge in the Dallas-Fort Worth Tracon, along with Flight Data Controller Amanda Alcantara, gathered information about various airports for potential landing options, while Bryen Waltjen provided support by handling other air traffic, allowing Chipman to focus entirely on the emergency aircraft.
The Baron’s low altitude made radio communication sporadic, and Chipman enlisted the help of another aircraft to relay vectors and other critical information, including that emergency equipment was standing by at Caddo Mills Municipal Airport, where the stricken Baron landed safely.
Western Pacific Region
Devin Stankevitz
On a Saturday morning at Chino Airport in California. Devin Stankevitz was managing a relatively busy opening shift as the controller in charge, covering the local controller and ground control positions while the other controller was on break. A group of six Van’s RV aircraft, Dawn Patrol Formation, known for performing in airshows, was preparing to depart for a local practice. Everything seemed routine until one of the pilots reported fuel in the fuselage and needed to return immediately for landing. Stankevitz quickly and calmly responded to the RV, giving the pilot a right downwind entry to Runway 26R, then offering him an opposite direction landing to Runways 8L or 8R. Stankevitz addressed the other aircraft in the pattern and safely had them make way for the emergency aircraft that needed an opposite direction landing. The ground controller, back from break, contacted the fire department and 911 dispatcher separately, as the crash phone system was temporarily out of service. Stankevitz’s experience and training kicked in, allowing him to clear the runway and taxiways promptly. His familiarity with similar situations, including a previous incident involving a Cessna running out of fuel, ensured he remained composed and efficient. Stankevitz credits the smooth handling of the emergency to effective communication and teamwork.
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