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37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
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Lifeguard small transport was cruising at FL180 and wanted to descend, turn and cancel IFR so he could proceed direct to his destination. He advised ATC. ATC continued to work other aircraft. Fearing for a patient's life, reporter turned off the airway until ATC noticed who then cleared him to descend.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 360230 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199702 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : fmn airport : 5v5 |
| State Reference | NM |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 18000 msl bound upper : 18000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdv |
| Operator | common carrier : air taxi |
| Make Model Name | Small Transport |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air taxi |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 500 |
| ASRS Report | 360230 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
I was PIC of a medical 'lifeguard' flight to pick up a patient at XXX. At FL180 on a direct clearance to XXX, we received instructions to cancel XXX and proceed to YYY. I called center and asked for a descent from FL180 and that I wanted to cancel IFR. Center acknowledged my call and began taking care of other aircraft. After some time, thinking a life may be at risk, I turned to a heading of 160 degrees without a clearance. After center noticed the turn he then allowed me to descend and cancel IFR. We continued to YYY without incident.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: LIFEGUARD SMT WAS CRUISING AT FL180 AND WANTED TO DSND, TURN AND CANCEL IFR SO HE COULD PROCEED DIRECT TO HIS DEST. HE ADVISED ATC. ATC CONTINUED TO WORK OTHER ACFT. FEARING FOR A PATIENT'S LIFE, RPTR TURNED OFF THE AIRWAY UNTIL ATC NOTICED WHO THEN CLRED HIM TO DSND.
Narrative: I WAS PIC OF A MEDICAL 'LIFEGUARD' FLT TO PICK UP A PATIENT AT XXX. AT FL180 ON A DIRECT CLRNC TO XXX, WE RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS TO CANCEL XXX AND PROCEED TO YYY. I CALLED CTR AND ASKED FOR A DSCNT FROM FL180 AND THAT I WANTED TO CANCEL IFR. CTR ACKNOWLEDGED MY CALL AND BEGAN TAKING CARE OF OTHER ACFT. AFTER SOME TIME, THINKING A LIFE MAY BE AT RISK, I TURNED TO A HDG OF 160 DEGS WITHOUT A CLRNC. AFTER CTR NOTICED THE TURN HE THEN ALLOWED ME TO DSND AND CANCEL IFR. WE CONTINUED TO YYY WITHOUT INCIDENT.
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.