NBAA Recognizes Air Traffic Controller’s Heroism | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-06.23.25

Airborne-NextGen-06.24.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.25.25

Airborne-AffordableFlyers-06.26.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.27.25

Wed, Nov 02, 2022

NBAA Recognizes Air Traffic Controller’s Heroism

Cool Heads Prevail in the Sunshine State

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has recognized Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Controller Robert Morgan with its Above and Beyond Award for Heroic Achievement, which recognizes individuals whose substantial actions served to preclude injury, loss of life, or catastrophic damage to business aircraft.

On 10 May 2022, Mr. Morgan was on duty at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) when a passenger onboard a Cessna 208 Caravan contacted the tower to report the plane’s pilot had been incapacitated during an inbound flight from the Bahamas.

“I’ve got a serious situation here,” said the passenger, later identified as Darren Harrison. “My pilot has gone incoherent [and] I have no idea how to fly the airplane.”

Ignoring long-standing FAA guidance dissuading Air Traffic Controllers from involving themselves in the business of vicariously flying the aircraft within their sectors, Mr. Morgan, a certificated pilot and flight instructor with approximately 1,200 flight hours and precisely zero Caravan time—referenced a photo of the single-engine turboprop’s flight deck for purpose of helping guide the distressed passenger’s operation of the aircraft as it approached Florida’s Atlantic coast. Following Mr. Morgan’s instructions, Harrison safely maneuvered toward PBI, descended toward the runway and made a safe landing.

NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen remarked: “Robert Morgan’s quick-thinking, professionalism, situational awareness, and calm demeanor were instrumental in successfully managing a critical emergency situation, saving all three people onboard from injury and allowing the incapacitated pilot to receive timely medical care. For his actions that day, we are pleased to present Robert with our 2022 NBAA Above and Beyond Award.”

Created by the NBAA Safety Committee in 2020, the Above and Beyond Award for Heroic Achievement—in addition to acknowledging personal valor, magnanimity, and benevolence—emphasizes the importance of stick-and-rudder flying skills in an age characterized by unprecedented pilot and aircrew reliance upon aircraft automation.

Mr. Morgan received this year’s award during the NBAA National Safety Forum, a series of discussions and presentations convened during the 2022 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) to help business aviation operators gain insights at once conducive to preventing accidents and strengthening their organizations’ safety postures.

Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) represents more than ten-thousand company and individual members and provides more than one-hundred products and services to the business aviation community—principal among which is the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the world’s largest civil aviation trade show.

FMI: www.nbaa.org

Advertisement

More News

Airborne 06.30.25: US v ADS-B Misuse, Nat’l STOL Fire, Volocopter Resumes

Also: Netherlands Donates 18 F16s, 2 737s Collide On Ramp, E-7 Wedgetail Cut, AgEagle's 100th In S Korea The Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act was introduced in the House by Represent>[...]

NTSB Prelim: Piper PA-23

Pilot Also Reported That Due To A Fuel Leak, The Auxiliary Fuel Tanks Were Not Used On June 4, 2025, at 13:41 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-23, N2109P, was substantially damage>[...]

ANN FAQ: Submit a News Story!

Have A Story That NEEDS To Be Featured On Aero-News? Here’s How To Submit A Story To Our Team Some of the greatest new stories ANN has ever covered have been submitted by our>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: One Man’s Vietnam

From 2023 (YouTube Edition): Reflections on War’s Collective Lessons and Cyclical Nature The exigencies of war ought be colorblind. Inane social-constructs the likes of racis>[...]

Klyde Morris (06.30.25)

What Goes Around, May Yet Come Back Around, Klyde FMI: www.klydemorris.com>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC