VICTOR SANTORE
SOUTHERN RVP
"There are three things I love about this
award: first, that it is going to a very
deserving member who has shown
dedication and passion for safety at each
point in her career: from the Air Force,
to two years at a contract tower, then to
Orlando (MCO) Tower, and now at Central
Florida TRACON; second, that this is a
wonderful example of extreme calm and
skill under pressure when a split-second
decision needed to be made forcefully to
ensure safety; and third, that this great
NATCA local now has its first Archie
League Award winner. This is what air
traffic controllers are really paid to do."
19
Gumbert: N76C, traffic alert. Traffic immediately beneath you
E-190, 1,000 feet. Say your heading.
After changing the pilot's heading, there was no response from
him. Gumbert continued to maintain her professionalism and
calmly issued a traffic alert before again asking the pilot of
N7876C his heading. Finally, he casually replied that his heading
was 360. Gumbert then issued the Citation an immediate left
turn to 270. Instead of questioning the pilot's actions, she
instantaneously attempted to mitigate the situation.
Gumbert: N76C, turn immediately, heading 2-7-0. Immediately.
N7876C: 2-7-0, 76C.
The Citation and JetBlue aircraft narrowly avoided one another
during takeoff, a result of Gumbert's vigilance and expertise.
