CAPTAIN DAVE MILLER
MASTER CORPORAL JOHN MOSS
On the evening of 29 August 2004, the Comox Duty Terminal Controller, Captain Dave Miller, was providing Air Traffic Control (ATC) services to a Cessna 208 aircraft that had departed on an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan from Comox to Fort St. John, British Columbia at an altitude of 13000 feet.
As the aircraft was climbing northward, Captain Miller noticed that the climb rate was not sufficient to get above the rising topography and began to issue corrective vectors to ensure that the aircraft would clear the mountainous terrain. The aircraft eventually levelled off at 13000 feet. The aircraft reached the boundary of Comox airspace, enroute to its destination, and was handed off to the Vancouver Area Control Centre (VR ACC).
Shortly after the handoff, Captain Miller received a call from VR ACC indicating that the aircraft had encountered significant icing conditions, was unable to maintain altitude and had commenced an emergency descent. The pilot had reversed course and was now heading south toward Campbell River, 20 nautical miles (NM) west of Comox. Captain Miller quickly re-established radio contact with the aircraft but was unable to establish radar contact. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Captain Miller calmly advised the pilot to do his best to maintain altitude until radar contact could be re-established. The aircraft, having descended through 12000 feet, was already well below the minimum safe altitude for the area. While awaiting radar contact, Capt Miller instructed the Duty Precision Approach Radar (PAR) Controller, Master Corporal John Moss, to assist with the situation by contacting various agencies to determine freezing levels and the cloud tops for the area. Radar contact was re-established when the aircraft was 67NM north of Comox and in descent through 11000 feet; an altitude 2000 ft below the minimum safe vectoring altitude.
An experienced controller and a qualified Visual Flight Rules (VFR) pilot, Captain Miller quickly determined that he could utilize VFR navigation charts in conjunction with the radar display to provide emergency assistance vectors to the aircraft, as Master Corporal Moss verified positions and determined the headings required to direct the aircraft towards the lower terrain of Bute Inlet. After approximately 25 minutes of continuous guidance and assistance, the aircraft reached an area with a minimum safe altitude of 9000 feet. Captain Miller then issued a descent to a safe altitude. As the aircraft passed through 9500 feet, the ice cleared from the aircraft and the pilot secured the emergency.
The outstanding airmanship and resourcefulness in utilizing VFR charts in addition to normal radar resources permitted Captain Miller and Master Corporal Moss to provide potentially life saving navigational assistance to a pilot experiencing a grave emergency. Despite the stressful and time critical situation, their actions were sound and decisive, resulting in an exemplary level of service that clearly extended above and beyond the call of duty.
Captain Miller and Master Corporal Moss continue to serve at 19 Wing Comox.
Well done!
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