Local controller failed to provide priority handling as requested by EMS flight.

Attributes
ACN	159931
Time
Date	199010
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zzz
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl bound lower : 1300 agl bound upper : 1300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : zzz tower : slc
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	159931
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Requesting landing clearance (using EMS call sign) I was instructed to report 1 mi east for landing at the southeast ramp. Because of a college football game in progress there was very heavy traffic (banner towing operations, etc). Controller aircraft radio xmissions/congestion was considerable. At 1 mi I reported as instructed and continued inbound. I received no response from tower. 2 more requests for confirmation of landing clearance were west/O response. Over the airport boundary and still west/O landing clearance I elected to continue the approach and land. Breaking off the approach would have created a collision hazard because of numerous aircraft at all positions above and behind me. When requesting departure clearance and using EMS call sign, the same controller ignored my xmissions for nearly 4 mins. I was not even told to stand by. This was most unsatisfactory as I could have departed safely and expeditiously in several directions completely away from the flow of fixed wing traffic. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter informed that the air traffic handbook states that EMS flts are to be given priority handling when requested. The reporter stated he had used the EMS call sign and requested priority. This analyst advised the reporter to contact the atm of the facility and report the incident for investigation in the future.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LCL CTLR FAILED TO PROVIDE PRIORITY HANDLING AS REQUESTED BY EMS FLT.

Narrative: REQUESTING LNDG CLRNC (USING EMS CALL SIGN) I WAS INSTRUCTED TO RPT 1 MI E FOR LNDG AT THE SE RAMP. BECAUSE OF A COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME IN PROGRESS THERE WAS VERY HEAVY TFC (BANNER TOWING OPS, ETC). CTLR ACFT RADIO XMISSIONS/CONGESTION WAS CONSIDERABLE. AT 1 MI I RPTED AS INSTRUCTED AND CONTINUED INBND. I RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FROM TWR. 2 MORE REQUESTS FOR CONFIRMATION OF LNDG CLRNC WERE W/O RESPONSE. OVER THE ARPT BOUNDARY AND STILL W/O LNDG CLRNC I ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE APCH AND LAND. BREAKING OFF THE APCH WOULD HAVE CREATED A COLLISION HAZARD BECAUSE OF NUMEROUS ACFT AT ALL POSITIONS ABOVE AND BEHIND ME. WHEN REQUESTING DEP CLRNC AND USING EMS CALL SIGN, THE SAME CTLR IGNORED MY XMISSIONS FOR NEARLY 4 MINS. I WAS NOT EVEN TOLD TO STAND BY. THIS WAS MOST UNSATISFACTORY AS I COULD HAVE DEPARTED SAFELY AND EXPEDITIOUSLY IN SEVERAL DIRECTIONS COMPLETELY AWAY FROM THE FLOW OF FIXED WING TFC. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR INFORMED THAT THE AIR TFC HANDBOOK STATES THAT EMS FLTS ARE TO BE GIVEN PRIORITY HANDLING WHEN REQUESTED. THE RPTR STATED HE HAD USED THE EMS CALL SIGN AND REQUESTED PRIORITY. THIS ANALYST ADVISED THE RPTR TO CONTACT THE ATM OF THE FAC AND RPT THE INCIDENT FOR INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.