1 May 2007
The boys from Newcastle ATC were joint winners of the 2007 GA Safety Award, together with Eshott Airfield manager Steve Clarehugh – the other party who helped guide a pilot with engine problems to a safe landing at Eshott through deteriorating weather and failing light. “It was an outstanding team effort,” declared the CAA’s Rob Metcalfe at the awards ceremony, held at the RAF Club on 1 May.
Together with Steve Clarehugh,The B Watch ATC team – Allan Davison, Mike Charleton, Keth Rogers, Keith Briggs and Andrew Graham – were presented with the CAA’s Tiger Moth trophy by Group Captain Roger Gault, Master of the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators (GAPAN).
Newcastle’s ATC team had guided the pilot of a Cessna 182 to overhead Eshott Airfield after he had experienced engine problems at 3,000 feet while en route from Aberdeen to Barton and radioed Newcastle Airport for assistance.
Due to the conditions, the aircraft was unable to reach Newcastle. Having been contacted by the ATC team, Steve Clarehugh positioned his car at the end of Eshott’s runway to illuminate the strip (which is unlit), and passed – via mobile phone to the Newcastle controllers – instructions to help the pilot find and line up with the runway. The aircraft landed successfully and niether the pilot nor passenger was injured.
Runner up was Dominic Underdown, a helicopter instructor who heard a Mayday issued by a Pitts pilot who had force landed in a field. Although conducting a lesson at the time, Mr Underdown landed next to the wreckage of the Pitts and using his medical skills (he had previously been a nurse) and along with his student, freed the Pitts pilot from the wreckage and offered medical support until the emergency services were able to attend.
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The General Aviation Safety Awards were handed out today at a special event in London. It’s the CAA’s big GA day of the year, hence the other press releases today!
