Was having a great time this arvo leading a formation around the skies of Northern NSW when I heard a change in the usual chatter on 127.1. Seems like some poor bloke was visual on top of a solid deck around the Armidale area. However he did not have any instrument training, and just to make things interesting he also had a rough running engine.
First of all I thanked the big fella that I had done my training in the RAAF and therefore have been instrument rated from the start of my flying career. I felt for that poor bugger in his aircraft with his rough running engine with no way to get on the ground quickly.
What followed during the next 20 or so minutes was a study in professionalism and resourcefulness by the controller on BN CEN. Now I’m assuming ATC have some sort of a checklist of actions to follow in order to deal with these types of contingencies. However the calm and helpful manner in which this controller assisted this pilot to a safe outcome is to be commended.
I sincerely hope the pilot concerned has made contact with the controller who was on BN CEN around 1500 today and offered him a lifetime supply of free booze, or at least his sincere thanks.
If that controller peruses this website, I say to him well done sir!
