Local Union Members Celebrated for Excellence in Safety

Local Union Members Are Celebrated For Excellence in Safety.

Submitted By Matt Murray
member of National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA)


Every year Air Traffic Controllers help move over seven million operations safely through the National Airspace System.  Sometimes Air Traffic Controllers must go above and beyond the normal operations to provide assistance to aircraft in an emergency situation, or in eminent danger.  On Jan. 18, the Federal Aviation Administration celebrated the excellent level of safety provided over the last year at Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZBW ARTCC).

All of the controllers were recognized individually for their work.  One of the situations was pulled out as the most outstanding flight assist of the year.  Chris Henchey assisted a woman pilot who started out having problems with her navigation equipment in her Cessna 152.  Shortly there after she lost her engine completely.  Chris, was also a certified flight instructor in a Cessna 152 help the woman work through all of the engine restart procedures.  He also went through the emergency checklist with the pilot and set her up for an emergency landing in a field west of Concord, NH.

As the aircraft descended below radio communications range with Chris and ATC,  everyone was preparing for the worst.  At around 1,500 feet above the ground, the pilot restarted the engine and began climbing again.  Chris helped direct her to the nearest airport in Concord, NH where she landed safely.

At the ZBW Safety awards for 2011, Chris got the opportunity to meet the woman pilot of the aircraft he helped save.  She said "You were there when I needed you most".

Congratulations to all of the NATCA Professional Controllers who helped make Boston Center a safer place this year.  Also a special Congratulations goes out to Chris Henchey who is the New England Recipient of the Archie League Award from NATCA.

Included are pictures from the event (and a link to the Picasa Album for better viewing) , and a video of the Pilot personally thanking Chris for saving her life.