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16 SOUTHERN SOUTHERN REGION REGION When an aircraft declares an emergency, every second matters. Decisions must be made quickly, communications must remain clear, and controllers must continue managing surrounding traffic while helping a pilot through one of the most stressful moments of his life. For Ariel Rodriguez Santander of Miami ATCT/TRACON (MIA), that moment came during an otherwise routine day with visual flight rules (VFR) conditions. N20072, a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, was transitioning southbound toward Hollywood North Perry Airport (HWO) when the pilot suddenly transmitted the words every controller hopes never to hear: "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday." The pilot reported that the engine was intermittently losing power and was unsure whether the aircraft would even make it to the airport. The aircraft was still more than 10 miles north of HWO, leaving several possible landing options, but little time to evaluate them. Rather than allowing the urgency of the situation to take over, Rodriguez Santander immediately settled into a disciplined mindset. He confirmed N20072's identity and destination, then began offering alternative airports, nearby highways, and any suitable landing area if the engine failed completely, adapting his recommendations as the engine alternated between producing power and losing it. Behind the scenes, the rest of the MIA moved quickly and functioned as a professional team. Rodriguez Santander marked the emergency on the radar data tag, so every controller understood the situation. Other controllers stepped in to stop departures, gather information, and coordinate with HWO to clear the traffic pattern. While the teamwork was exceptional, Rodriguez Santander remained the steady voice on frequency. One of the greatest challenges during an emergency is avoiding tunnel vision — focusing exclusively on the distressed aircraft while unintentionally creating conflicts elsewhere. Rodriguez Santander consciously resisted that tendency, continuing to work the remaining traffic and preventing one emergency from becoming several. Ariel Rodriguez Santander Miami ATCT/ TRACON (MIA) Ariel Rodriguez Santander

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