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18 In the high-pressure world of air traffic control, the ability to remain composed during life-threatening emergencies is what separates good controllers from great ones. Christiaan "Q" Cambridge, an air traffic controller at Miami ATCT (MIA), exemplified that calm professionalism in November 2024 when he guided a pilot with an engine failure to safety over the unforgiving terrain of the Florida Everglades. What began as a quiet evening shift quickly escalated when Christiaan heard a faint, distressed voice on frequency. While the pilot's exact words were unclear to him, the urgency and emotion were unmistakable. The aircraft was experiencing severe engine trouble over the Everglades — an area known not just for its remoteness, but also for the lack of emergency landing options and challenging search and rescue logistics. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Christiaan immediately began vectoring the aircraft toward U.S. Highway 27 — the closest identifiable landmark and one of the few potential landing options. Despite the unfolding crisis, Christiaan maintained a calm, reassuring tone throughout the exchange. His mindset was clear: "He's relying on me to be the calm voice of reason." Christiaan's actions extended far beyond issuing vectors. Anticipating the possibility of a forced landing in the swampy terrain, he coordinated intercept vectors for nearby aircraft in real time. "If this guy goes down," he reasoned, "we need to know where he is. Every minute counts in the Everglades." Thanks to Christiaan's quick thinking and coordination, three aircraft — a Citation jet, a Cessna 172, and a Coast Guard CASA CN-235 — were able to maintain visual contact with the distressed plane, assist in relaying its location to emergency personnel, and serve as air traffic control's eyes in the sky, providing real-time visuals of the situation on the ground — something radar alone couldn't offer. The pilot ultimately made a successful emergency landing and was treated by first responders on the ground. The news SOUTHER N R EGION SOUTHER N R EGION Christiaan Cambridge Miami ATCT MIA Wri en by Eric Goldman (Pensacola ATCT, PNS)

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