A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/672709
him, and file the appropriate paperwork on him.
SKW6522: I just want to say we really appreciate the fact that you said something, cause
we didn't see him until you said something.
CHAPPELL: You're welcome. Glad to help.
Chappell began his FAA career in 1988 at Burbank Tower and moved over to the old L.A.
TRACON in 1992. In 1994, the facility was consolidated into SCT and Chappell is now in his
16th year there. This honor marks Chappell's second Archie League award. He and Al Hurst
won the first Western Pacific Archie League award for a save in 2004 involving nearly the
exact set of circumstances as this 2009 event: An unidentified VFR aircraft posing a traffic
and safety hazard to a SkyWest flight inbound to LAX.
Veteran SCT controller Ron Geyer, who nominated Chappell for the 2009 save, said of the
quick thinking, "As you can clearly hear on the tape, Ron's awareness prevented a collision."
Ron Chappell
Southern California TRACON (SCT)
23
"On Aug. 31, 1986, an Aeromexico DC-9 collided with a Piper Archer over Cer-
ritos, Calif. The NTSB found that the Piper had deviated into the LAX terminal
control area. The aircraft was not equipped with a Mode C transponder and was-
n't in contact with ATC. The accident was largely responsible for the FAA requir-
ing that all commercial aircraft be equipped with traffic alert and collision
avoidance systems (TCAS