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Northwest Mountain Region One of the trends we have seen in the six years of our NATCA Archie League Medal of Safety Awards program has been the prevalence of winning flight assists that involved a controller who also had some level of flying experience. Whether a few lessons or many years in the cockpit, those controllers have added something very valuable to their array of skills that come in handy during an emergency situ- ation in their airspace. The latest chapter on this was written on March 29, 2009, when Marcus Plessner saw the misfortune of encountering en- gine trouble with his Piper Aztec above western Montana turn into great fortune when he flew into Sector 6 at Salt Lake Center, staffed at that moment by 23-year veteran controller and accomplished pilot Troy Decker. "Yes sir, we're having some problems with our number two engine, like to divert to nearest airport. Request vectors." Plessner's calm demeanor was matched by Decker, who quickly came up with a plan for the aircraft. The challenges were evident; a rough running engine and the plane's location in a mountainous area where radar coverage is sketchy below 13,000 feet. DECKER: Four-zero-four charlie hotel, Anaconda Airport is just off your eleven o'clock and four miles. If you need infor- mation on it I can get you that or if you can make Butte. Butte is about … just picked you up on radar sir, radar contact. One five miles northwest of (inaudible) approximately Butte Airport eleven o'clock two-zero miles. Plessner accepted the idea of Butte and began a descent to get an approach. Decker gave him a detailed weather re- port and it quickly became apparent that Butte was perhaps not the best option as the weather was reported below mini- mums in the area. At that point, the situ- ation with Plessner's engine worsened and he formally declared an emergency. Decker quickly provided other options as landing alternatives, starting with Ana- conda, then Dillon where the weather seemed a bit better. "Troy does an excellent job relaying infor- mation so the pilot could make an in- formed decision as to which airport he should choose," Salt Lake Center Facility Representative Doug Pincock said. As Plessner's number two engine went out completely, Decker gave him another complete weather and situation briefing and instructed him to descend and main- tain an altitude of 12,000 feet. Decker threw out Missoula as another option. N404CH: Yeah. How's Missoula's weather? Uh, we got smoke coming off our number two right now, four charlie hotel. DECKER: OK, uh, Missoula is two-one- one-seven special. Winds three-two-zero at one-zero. Visibility one and one quar- ter. Light snow. Mist. Ceiling seven hun- dred overcast. Temperature one. Dew point zero. Altimeter two niner six niner. N404CH: Alright, let's go for Missoula. Our number two is on fire at this time for four charlie hotel. Decker told Plessner that Anaconda Air- port was actually right behind him, albeit plagued by more weather problems. Plessner said he wanted it and Decker told him it was a VOR approach. But just 16

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