OK here is another one, regarding who has priority ?

Question

You are in an aircraft (private) with 2 on board, one has a heart attack, and has to be on deck ASAP, how is it determined by ATC who gets priority if there is an A319 with engine out MayDay. Do they look at "who was first" to clear the approach, or is it by the size, crew+passenger #?

Well, to make this more difficult, there is only one runway they can both land on, the A319 is looking for the nearest runway of any length. My passenger is now un-responsive, who is first?

Answer 1

Sorry Aviophage, Lifeguard is for medical flights and such, air ambulances. The significant difference is that a Lifeguard flight is carrying someone who was expected to be sick. Calling mayday declares an immediate emergency. Read some more. If your copilot dies at the control you don't call Lifeguard, you declare an emergency and get some expedited assistance, not just an unimpeded approach. A Lifeguard flight isn't going to need the EMTs to meet the plane on the runway, if you call Mayday and ask them to send the equipment that's exactly what you will get.

See the link below. I hear Lifeguard called all the time. A mayday will trump the A319 regardless of the numbers of folks involved. The 2 person aircraft has an immediately life threatening emergency and the A319 has an inconvenience and a slightly less straightforward than normal landing. No contest.

More difficult if they both had an heart attack victim.

Answer 2

Simple. ATC asks the airbus if he can take some delayed vectors, asuming the conflict is that close. He can if all we're talking about is an engine out. Then you get the heart attack on deck. If you don't like what the controller does instead, then land on the frigging taxiway or take the grass. Worry about the FAA later. Are you really going to concern yourself with priority when it's your passenger that's dying. Are you PIC or not? This is really not a hypothetical that you should give much thought. It will never happen pricisely like you discuss it here. The toughest thing about flying is doing the headwork. Anybody can land the sucker. When you're in command, take command.

Answer 3

Assuming there is only one runway, and both aircraft are arriving at the exact same time. The aircraft that has less manuverability will get priority. In this case the Airbus with engine out. Although, I doubt ATC will think of manuverability or FAR's when there's an engine out airbus coming to the airport. They will also assume that the 2nd passenger on the private aircraft can at least maneuver the aircraft behind the airbus or like the other guy said, land on the taxiway.

I assumed both engines out on airbus, sorry. With only one engine out the airbus would not call MayDay, therefore ATC would give it to the private plane. The airbus can fly all day with one engine.

"Lifeguard" is intended to be used by Air Ambulances when expeditious handling by ATC is required. It will NOT alert any emergency services. Only declaring an emergency will do that.

Answer 4

Well odd are one in a million but there are so many variable in place here,,, i know what you want to say who has priority 150 people or the two,,,

But 1. One engine out doesnt constitue a mayday,,, 2 engines yes depending on altitude,

2. most airports that can handle a a319 are going to have at least 2 runways,,

3. worst case scenrio, the smaller plane lands on a taxiway,and the 319 takes the runway,,,

Did you hear about the one that took off on a taxiway the other day in error,,, kinda scary,,,

Answer 5

The Airbus crew would voluntarily defer to the other aircraft. Pretty sure about that. Doesn't really matter, by the way, whether the medical emergency is "private aircraft" or not. In general, "Mayday" takes priority. "Lifeguard" is given preference over non-emergency traffic. In this hypothetical, an engine-out is not life-threatening absent some special facts. In practice, preference/priority is a non-issue if the aircraft are already separated and the two operations are not in conflict. In the "private aircraft" I fly, we can keep the speed up. The engine-out Airbus would probably be slower, anyway. Beat him to the airport.

Answer 6

There are so many airports near each other that this scenario would never happen. Well, the part about the Airbus losing an engine and the heart attack can but not the airport scenario. Especially since one is a puddle jumper that could land on a road if need be.

Answer 7

You call "Lifeguard" and you get priority over all other traffic. (For example "Willieville approach, lifeguard Cessna 2377D in for landing, most direct, please.") Approach will give you priority over all traffic and vector you to the most suitable runway.

I am surprised nobody mentioned this, as it is part of primary pilot training. The key word is "lifeguard." (It means, "I have a passenger who needs immediate medical attention to save his/her life, and there is nothing wrong with my airplane.")

The possibility of two simultaneous emergencies at a given airport is so slim as to border on fantasy. In the situation you mentioned, the lifeguard flight would have priority over the engine-out flight if that was all that was wrong.

Calling "lifeguard" also automatically triggers ambulances and other necessary emergency services.

=== Sorry, Chris. Any pilot can call "lifeguard." Per the FARs. ===

Answer 8

I would let the small one first, for otherwise there would be a huge wake turbulence area, and the small one would not be able to land at all. more than that the small one does not need to block the entire runway.. it is able to land into the emergency strip, or at one of the taxiways probably.

i expect the "lifeguard" to be the callsign more that anything else. the phrase to be used is pacient on board to start the life-saving procedures.

much the same like our European /Germany, Czech rep., Austria/ "Christopher".

Answer 9

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Answer 10

I'd have to say how many people arein danger on each craft,would determine witch lands first