In this Issue:
Operational Priority for Air Carrier/Air Taxi Lifeguard Flights
Minimum Altitude Emergencies
Aircraft Call Sign Changes
Readback/Hearback, Again
INCIDENT'LY
Visual Separation Mistakes
Air Traffic Controller
Time to Climb
Aircraft Performance Characteristics
Back to the "C" in Controller
What is Awareness?
Operational Priority for Air Carrier/Air Taxi Lifeguard Flights
/*TER/ Civilian air ambulance flights responding to medical emergencies (carrying patients, organ donors, organs, etc.), including air carrier/air taxi aircraft using the "LIFEGUARD" call sign, will receive operational priority. Unlike civilian air ambulances, air carrier/air taxi aircraft are restricted from filing a flight plan using the letter "L" (indicator for Lifeguard) in conjunction with the aircraft's call sign.
This restriction is due to the limit of a combination of seven alpha/numeric characters allotted for the aircraft identity.
To indicate to air traffic control (ATC) that an air carrier/air taxi aircraft is actually a lifeguard flight and to facilitate priority handling, the word "Lifeguard" is included in the remarks section of the flight plan. This information should be reflected in the remarks section of the flight data/flight progress strip. It is important for the controller to be aware of all flight data and to ensure that this information is accurate and passed to the adjacent position/facility in a timely manner. It is important that this information is coordinated so that each controller may provide the necessary service and assistance.
When an air carrier/air taxi uses the term "Lifeguard" in conjunction with its call sign ("Lifeguard American Twenty Eight"), this is considered a request for operational priority, which should be granted. As indicated in FAAO 7110.65, Air Traffic Control, paragraph 2-1-4b, Note, "It is recognized that heavy traffic flow may affect the controller's ability to provide priority handling. However, without compromising safety, good judgement shall be used in each situation to facilitate the most expeditious movement of a lifeguard aircraft."
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