AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS TALK PLANE DOWN IN WASHINGTON.Byline: Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. Crackling crack·ling n. 1. The production of a succession of slight sharp snapping noises. 2. cracklings The crisp bits that remain after rendering fat from meat or frying or roasting the skin, especially of a pig or a goose. over the airwaves came the last thing any air traffic controller would want to hear: "My pilot's passed out on me, and I'm not an experienced float-plane pilot. Can I get someone to help me?" David Shettleroe, a Federal Aviation Administration Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), component of the U.S. Department of Transportation that sets standards for the air-worthiness of all civilian aircraft, inspects and licenses them, and regulates civilian and military air traffic through its air traffic control controller at the Renton Municipal Airport Renton Municipal Airport (renamed Clayton Scott Field in 2005 to celebrate the 100th birthday of Clayton Scott) (IATA: RNT, ICAO: KRNT) is located in Renton, Washington, USA, next to the Boeing plant that manufactures 737s and formerly 757s. , quickly passed the microphone to acting tower manager David Littlefield, a veteran small-plane pilot. With Shettleroe and controller-in-charge Cheryl Hoyt backing him up, Littlefield, 40, calmly directed Leland Capps down in an emergency landing Wednesday afternoon. The single-engine Cessna 206 bounced off the water at the south end of Lake Washington Lake Washington is the second largest natural lake in state of Washington (after Lake Chelan) and the largest lake in King County. It is bordered by the cities of Seattle on the west, Bellevue and Kirkland on the east, Renton on the south and Kenmore on the north, and surrounds , then skidded across a paved runway and came to a stop in the grass. The front of the plane was badly damaged, but Capps, 52, walked away with only minor injuries. The pilot, 46-year-old Raymond Ihrke, was pronounced dead of a heart attack. In a news conference in this Seattle suburb Thursday, Fred Isaac, the FAA administrator for the seven-state Northwest Mountain Region, presented all three controllers with "outstanding flight assist" trophies. "You saved a life. Congratulations," Isaac said. President Clinton and Transportation Federico Pena called earlier in the day with compliments "on this tremendous save," Isaac added. Capps, who had limited flying experience and no formal training as a pilot, called the tower in distress 16 minutes after takeoff from the Renton airport, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. an audio tape and transcript. "Renton tower," he called. "Hello, Renton tower." "Calling Renton tower, say request and your call sign," Shettleroe responded. "Yes, sir. I'm in trouble up here. My pilot's passed out on me, and I'm not an experienced float plane pilot. Can I get someone to help me?" "OK, I'm with you sir," Shettleroe said. Capps gave his location. Then, for more than a minute, he failed to respond to repeated calls from the tower. "Are you able to call me on the radio?" Littlefield asked. "Yes, I forgot to press the button," Capps finally replied. "I'm sorry." Littlefield asked Capps whether he wanted to set down on water or land. "Which would be the safest?" Capps asked. "I think the grass is probably better because we won't be able to get to you if you're in the water," Littlefield replied. Less than a minute and a half later, Capps made the turn for his final approach. "Leland, cinch cinch a saddle girth on an American stock saddle. Tightens with a knot on a ring instead of with straps and buckles. your seat belt down real tight. Get your shoulder harness shoulder harness n. A safety belt used with a seat belt in a vehicle and worn diagonally across the chest and over the shoulder. Also called shoulder belt. squared away," the controller said. "I'm having a hard time 'cause his head's right behind my back," Capps replied. Shettleroe and Hoyt cheered as the plane hit the water and then the land. The floats crumpled crum·ple v. crum·pled, crum·pling, crum·ples v.tr. 1. To crush together or press into wrinkles; rumple. 2. To cause to collapse. v.intr. 1. and the aircraft skidded to a stop on its belly. "Good job, Leland," Littlefield said in his final transmission. "Sorry about the landing," Capps radioed back. |
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