Narrative:

As a 'lifeguard' flight carrying doctors and harvested human organs, a time critical schedule is essential. As we were level at 2600 ft MSL, we were told by ATC to follow DC8 descending from 7000 ft MSL crossing left to right for a visual runway 25 into toledo express. At that time, we were 10 NM south of tol. We proceeded to watch the DC8 descend and fly a downwind and base leg 8 NM from the airport. Avoiding wake turbulence, we followed the DC8's glide path. Despite our 'lifeguard' call sign and purpose, we followed the DC8's path and were advised that we were 30 KTS faster than the DC8. We lowered the gear and flaps to slow down. We landed 10-15 mins later than necessary. The occurrence didn't affect the safety of flight per say, but it might have affected the life of the person we were helping to save. There was no doubt between my captain and me that we could have been sequenced in and landed without delaying the cargo-carrying DC8. It is my recommendation, that in similar sits, lighter and more maneuverable 'lifeguard' aircraft be sequenced in before larger, heavier cargo aircraft. This way aviation may more efficiently assist the saving of human lives.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE10 CREW COMPLAINS THAT THEIR LIFEGUARD ACFT WAS NOT GIVEN PRIORITY HANDING BY ATC.

Narrative: AS A 'LIFEGUARD' FLT CARRYING DOCTORS AND HARVESTED HUMAN ORGANS, A TIME CRITICAL SCHEDULE IS ESSENTIAL. AS WE WERE LEVEL AT 2600 FT MSL, WE WERE TOLD BY ATC TO FOLLOW DC8 DSNDING FROM 7000 FT MSL XING L TO R FOR A VISUAL RWY 25 INTO TOLEDO EXPRESS. AT THAT TIME, WE WERE 10 NM S OF TOL. WE PROCEEDED TO WATCH THE DC8 DSND AND FLY A DOWNWIND AND BASE LEG 8 NM FROM THE ARPT. AVOIDING WAKE TURB, WE FOLLOWED THE DC8'S GLIDE PATH. DESPITE OUR 'LIFEGUARD' CALL SIGN AND PURPOSE, WE FOLLOWED THE DC8'S PATH AND WERE ADVISED THAT WE WERE 30 KTS FASTER THAN THE DC8. WE LOWERED THE GEAR AND FLAPS TO SLOW DOWN. WE LANDED 10-15 MINS LATER THAN NECESSARY. THE OCCURRENCE DIDN'T AFFECT THE SAFETY OF FLT PER SAY, BUT IT MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED THE LIFE OF THE PERSON WE WERE HELPING TO SAVE. THERE WAS NO DOUBT BTWN MY CAPT AND ME THAT WE COULD HAVE BEEN SEQUENCED IN AND LANDED WITHOUT DELAYING THE CARGO-CARRYING DC8. IT IS MY RECOMMENDATION, THAT IN SIMILAR SITS, LIGHTER AND MORE MANEUVERABLE 'LIFEGUARD' ACFT BE SEQUENCED IN BEFORE LARGER, HEAVIER CARGO ACFT. THIS WAY AVIATION MAY MORE EFFICIENTLY ASSIST THE SAVING OF HUMAN LIVES.

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.