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ArchieAwards 2024_Final

A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association

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18 On March 1, 2024, N715MW, a BEECH 36 Bonanza was enroute to Smyrna Airport (MQY) from Cisco, Texas (GZN) on a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) ight plan with ight following. Josh Wilks, the pilot of N715MW, established radio communications with Jaime Romaker, a controller at Nashville ATCT (BNA), and was on track to land at his intended airport. While inbound, a controller familiar with the weather at MQY called Jaime and advised her that the weather was likely not going to be clear enough for a VFR aircra to land. Jaime advised the pilot of N715MW of the updated weather report. e pilot stated that he had about 45 minutes of fuel le and asked if they could nd him a better place to land. With the surrounding airports reporting low ceilings, Jaime asked the pilot if he was Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) capable, but the pilot responded that he was not. Jaime immediately started looking for alternate destinations. BNA was reporting Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) and the initial plan was to land at BNA airport, which was approximately 25 miles northeast. While N715MW was on his way to BNA, the weather deteriorated and landing at BNA was no longer an option. ere were no airports reporting VMC conditions in the local area. e airports that were reporting marginal VMC conditions were approximately 40 miles from N715MW's current position. Considering that weather conditions were not guaranteed to remain VMC and the low fuel state of the aircra , these options were a risky choice. Jaime and the rest of the team started looking for a safe airport for N715MW to land. ey decided on Shelbyville Municipal Airport (SYI), which was about 49 miles south of the aircra 's position at the time. While N715MW made his way to SYI, the weather at John C. Tune Airport ( JWN), which is 11 miles northwest of BNA, became incrementally better, and weather reports from air tra c control indicated that there was a chance that a VFR aircra would be able to make it through the cloud layer. Jaime gave N715MW a vector Wri en by Amy Sayers (Fort Lauderdale ATCT, FLL) Wri en by Amy Sayers (Fort Lauderdale ATCT, FLL) SOUTHERN REGION SOUTHERN REGION SOUTHERN REGION SOUTHERN REGION SOUTHERN REGION SOUTHERN REGION SOUTHERN REGION SOUTHERN REGION SOUTHERN REGION SOUTHERN REGION SOUTHERN REGION SOUTHERN REGION SOUTHERN REGION SOUTHERN REGION SOUTHERN REGION SOUTHERN REGION SOUTHERN REGION SOUTHERN REGION SOUTHERN REGION SOUTHERN REGION SOUTHERN REGION Steven Brader Nashville ATCT BNA William Mitchell Nashville ATCT BNA Jaime Romaker Nashville ATCT BNA

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