BE9L lifeguard flight inbound to hou is not afforded priority handling.

Attributes
ACN	602211
Time
Date	200312
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : tnv.vortac
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : i90.tracon tower : las.tower
Operator	Other
Make Model Name	King Air C90 E90
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 4338 flight time type : 430
ASRS Report	602211
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Passenger Human Performance Airspace Structure ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

After departing waco regional airport, we were cleared to 6000 ft direct hobby (hou). When xferred to ZHU we were cleared to 7000 ft direct to hobby. At college station (cll), we were cleared to 6000 ft direct to hobby. About 40 NM out, we were xferred to houston approach control 124.35, still at 6000 ft direct hobby. My copilot advised them that we required priority handling. Then at XA32Z, turned us from a heading of 125 degrees to a heading of 180 degrees. Our position was approximately 308 degrees at 13.0 DME from tnv. We thought they were vectoring us for the runway 12R localizer. After we went through the final approach course, approach wanted us to climb to 7000 ft. At this time, I said negative, we are lifeguard and were requesting priority handling. Their reply was they could not because of east flow at iah and to climb to 8000 ft then direct to hobby. After landing at hobby, I contacted the supervisor, at houston TRACON and advised him of what happened. He sounded like the lifeguard flight was a problem and should not get priority handling because it was inconvenient for the aircraft at iah, also he wanted me out of his air.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE9L LIFEGUARD FLT INBOUND TO HOU IS NOT AFFORDED PRIORITY HANDLING.

Narrative: AFTER DEPARTING WACO REGIONAL ARPT, WE WERE CLRED TO 6000 FT DIRECT HOBBY (HOU). WHEN XFERRED TO ZHU WE WERE CLRED TO 7000 FT DIRECT TO HOBBY. AT COLLEGE STATION (CLL), WE WERE CLRED TO 6000 FT DIRECT TO HOBBY. ABOUT 40 NM OUT, WE WERE XFERRED TO HOUSTON APCH CTL 124.35, STILL AT 6000 FT DIRECT HOBBY. MY COPLT ADVISED THEM THAT WE REQUIRED PRIORITY HANDLING. THEN AT XA32Z, TURNED US FROM A HEADING OF 125 DEGS TO A HEADING OF 180 DEGS. OUR POS WAS APPROX 308 DEGS AT 13.0 DME FROM TNV. WE THOUGHT THEY WERE VECTORING US FOR THE RWY 12R LOC. AFTER WE WENT THROUGH THE FINAL APCH COURSE, APCH WANTED US TO CLB TO 7000 FT. AT THIS TIME, I SAID NEGATIVE, WE ARE LIFEGUARD AND WERE REQUESTING PRIORITY HANDLING. THEIR REPLY WAS THEY COULD NOT BECAUSE OF E FLOW AT IAH AND TO CLB TO 8000 FT THEN DIRECT TO HOBBY. AFTER LNDG AT HOBBY, I CONTACTED THE SUPVR, AT HOUSTON TRACON AND ADVISED HIM OF WHAT HAPPENED. HE SOUNDED LIKE THE LIFEGUARD FLT WAS A PROB AND SHOULD NOT GET PRIORITY HANDLING BECAUSE IT WAS INCONVENIENT FOR THE ACFT AT IAH, ALSO HE WANTED ME OUT OF HIS AIR.

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.