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ArchieAwardsBook_2025 1

A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association

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10 It was a clear morning in Upstate New York on February 10, 2025. N928PG, a single-engine Pilatus PC12, departed White Plains, N.Y. headed northwest for Flying Cloud Airport in Minnesota. The aircraft had reached its cruising altitude of 30,000 feet in New York Center (ZNY)'s airspace when it experienced a complete engine failure. The pilot requested assistance to land at New York Stewart International Airport. This is where James Barth at New York TRACON (N90) became involved. He knew the aircraft would need a great breadth of coordination to get between ZNY, Boston Center (ZBW), N90, surrounding towered fields, and finally, Stewart. Barth realized that, in addition to the standard coordination of emergency services and acquiring field weather information, the clear conditions in the area meant many Visual Flight Rules (VFR) aircraft were operating in the vicinity. He quickly coordinated with adjacent facilities to have air traffic control alert the potentially affected aircraft to allow the Pilatus a smooth transition to the field. He coordinated the relative position of the aircraft, that they would be coming in from a higher than standard altitude, and an alternate runway to facilitate their landing based on their direction. Due to quick thinking and many coordination calls, Barth helped facilitate N928PG making a safe landing at Stewart. After the event, James said to New York TRACON Facility Representative Joe Segretto: "I just worked a PC12 from ZNY in the flight levels with no engine into Stewart, and the pilot was absolutely amazing." As Barth reflected on the experience, he cited the strong training he had had throughout his time at Washington Center (ZDC) and N90 as critical elements to making the choices he did that day. "Every day is always a training day because you're constantly learning , up until the day you retire," said Barth who also serves as the N90 Training Representative. Barth also cited his experience as a private pilot, helping him EASTER N R EGION EASTER N R EGION James Barth New York TRACON N90 Wri en by Jaymi Steinberg (Washington Center, ZDC)

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