Fighting Falcon F16
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 15
Time Pressure; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Diverted
Aircraft; Procedure; Airspace Structure
I was working the Operational Supervisor Desk when a controller told me there was an aircraft that had not [requested priority handling]; but was trying to figure out a technical difficulty. The aircraft [requested priority handling] with an engine malfunction; and requested to land at [a] Naval Air Base immediately. There was a layer of clouds over the field. The airport lies within a Restricted Area that was hot. We had already coordinated direct to the airport with the Military Radar Unit for the [priority situation]. The pilot asked what the MVA was in the area he was at because he needed to get down to land and was on top of a cloud. The controller issued the MVA. I instructed the controller to issue the aircraft a short range IFR clearance to get him down. I made the decision as a safety of flight due to [a priority] situation. There was a disagreement as to if it was legal. Our LOA (Letter of Agreement) on controlling in the Restricted Area Complex allows us to issue short range clearances when aircraft in the complex encounters IMC conditions.
An ATC Supervisor reported instructing a controller to issue an IFR clearance through a Restricted Area due to priority situation.