18
During this training session the pilot of a Cessna 400 suddenly reported
low engine pressure and requested to land at the nearest airport.
N400BZ: Daytona, 0BZ, I got an issue with my engine right now, I'm not
declaring an emergency or anything like that but I need to get direct to Kilo
Tango India X-ray immediately for 0BZ.
Blatnik immediately took over the position and frequency in order to
assist the struggling aircraft. The pilot reported that his engine and oil
pressure were rapidly worsening and that he needed to get as low as
possible. Blatnik continued to work the numerous other aircraft in his
saturated airspace and began to direct them out of the aircraft's way.
Blatnik was updating the pilot with the location of nearby aircraft and the
distance to the nearest airport, Space Coast Regional Airport (TIX), when
the pilot declared an emergency.
Blatnik: 0BZ traffic's now two o'clock and two miles westbound four-thousand
500 a Cirrus, let me know if you pick him up.
N400BZ: 0BZ is losing his engine – I need, I need the runway, 0BZ, declaring
emergency.
It was a busy push on April 18, 2015, when Donald
Blatnik III was training Kenneth Scheele on East
Departure at Central Florida TRACON (F11).
DONALD
BLATNIK III
Central Fla. TRACON
KENNETH
SCHEELE
Central Fla. TRACON
