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ArchieAwards 2024_Final

A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association

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19 towards JWN and then conducted a relief brie ng with BNA member Will Mitchell. A er assisting Jaime from the coordinator position for several minutes, Will was familiar with the plan and was easily able to take over the position. Will is a private pilot with both commercial and instrument ratings, and upon assuming the Departure Radar West position, he discussed the current options with N715MW. It became clear that, even with breaks in the cloud layer, N715MW was going to have to descend through instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The initial plan that Will and the pilot agreed to was to make a slow spiral descent over the JWN airport until the airport was in sight. He talked the aircraft through each step of the process and worked to create a rapport with N715MV 's pilot. Once N715MW was over JWN, N715MW started their descent in a large, slow spiral pattern over the airport. Despite being in a descent for several minutes, the pilot had only descended 400-500 feet. Will continued to advise the pilot what he was seeing on the radar and instructed N715MW to continue to descend. A er observing N715MW inadvertently climbing, Will advised the pilot to level o and to y straight and level. Realizing the spiral descent wasn't viable, they devised a new plan with straighter lines and slow, easy turns. Josh began descending at 300 feet per minute with Will's guidance. Will asked if the ground was visible, but N715MW reported still being in the clouds. Anticipating that the pilot would soon see through the clouds, Will set up the aircra for a stable approach. When the pilot reported being able to see the ground, Will veri ed that the pilot had the airport in sight and then cleared N715MW to land. JWN airport had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of N715MW and had held all tra c in anticipation of his arrival. N715MW landed safely thanks to the work of Steven, Will, and Jaime. rough the combined expertise and quick thinking of the Nashville ATCT team, a potentially dire situation was managed e ectively, ensuring the safety of N715MW and its pilot. Congratulations to the 2024 Southern Region, Archie League Medal of Safety Award Winners, Steven Brader, William Mitchell, and Jaime Romaker! 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

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