Narrative:

The occurrence I am going to describe occurred in 10/90 during an EMS EMS operation from hospital in abc to medical center in xyz. Abc is located northwest of ZZZ, approximately 17 NM. The straight line course was 154 degrees magnetic. After entering XXXX on the transponder, the assigned discrete code for this helicopter by approach, tower was contacted on 126.9 and notified that our altitude was 1200' MSL and that this was an EMS flight. Instructions were then given to proceed east to avoid departing traffic of runways 23L and 32R. After complying instructions were issued to proceed south and cross runway 27R, but hold short of 27L. Upon reaching this point make 360 degree tight turns to hold short of runway 27L. Tower was again contacted and tower issued instructions to contact tower on 120.75. Contact was made and initial instructions were to hold north of runway 27L. After a couple of more 360 degree turns instructions were issued to cross runway 27L. At this point there appeared to be some confusion as to what the instructions were. I understood I was to cross behind an aircraft that was on the ground already and the controller told me he meant the aircraft that was on final. The aircraft on final was several mi out and no conflict. This was an isolated event with ZZZ and rest assured that they have some of the finest and most efficient controllers in the world. This is being written because I feel that helicopter presence in high density environment, particularly aeromedical, will be growing in the future, and that efficient method for ATC handling should be addressed. I realize that an EMS flight is only addressed in the aim and states that ATC will give preferential handling. I also know that the aim is non regulatory in nature and need not be heeded, but efficient and safe handling is not too much to ask for.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF HELICOPTER MEDICAL FLT ENTERED ATA VFR AND WAS CLEARED BY TWR ACROSS 27L AT 1200'. HELICOPTER PLT REPORTING CONFUSED THE INSTRUCTIONS WITH ACFT ON GND WHEN ACFT WAS ON FINAL FOR 27L.

Narrative: THE OCCURRENCE I AM GOING TO DESCRIBE OCCURRED IN 10/90 DURING AN EMS EMS OPERATION FROM HOSPITAL IN ABC TO MEDICAL CENTER IN XYZ. ABC IS LOCATED NW OF ZZZ, APPROX 17 NM. THE STRAIGHT LINE COURSE WAS 154 DEGS MAGNETIC. AFTER ENTERING XXXX ON THE XPONDER, THE ASSIGNED DISCRETE CODE FOR THIS HELI BY APCH, TWR WAS CONTACTED ON 126.9 AND NOTIFIED THAT OUR ALT WAS 1200' MSL AND THAT THIS WAS AN EMS FLT. INSTRUCTIONS WERE THEN GIVEN TO PROCEED E TO AVOID DEPARTING TFC OF RWYS 23L AND 32R. AFTER COMPLYING INSTRUCTIONS WERE ISSUED TO PROCEED S AND CROSS RWY 27R, BUT HOLD SHORT OF 27L. UPON REACHING THIS POINT MAKE 360 DEG TIGHT TURNS TO HOLD SHORT OF RWY 27L. TWR WAS AGAIN CONTACTED AND TWR ISSUED INSTRUCTIONS TO CONTACT TWR ON 120.75. CONTACT WAS MADE AND INITIAL INSTRUCTIONS WERE TO HOLD N OF RWY 27L. AFTER A COUPLE OF MORE 360 DEG TURNS INSTRUCTIONS WERE ISSUED TO CROSS RWY 27L. AT THIS POINT THERE APPEARED TO BE SOME CONFUSION AS TO WHAT THE INSTRUCTIONS WERE. I UNDERSTOOD I WAS TO CROSS BEHIND AN ACFT THAT WAS ON THE GND ALREADY AND THE CTLR TOLD ME HE MEANT THE ACFT THAT WAS ON FINAL. THE ACFT ON FINAL WAS SEVERAL MI OUT AND NO CONFLICT. THIS WAS AN ISOLATED EVENT WITH ZZZ AND REST ASSURED THAT THEY HAVE SOME OF THE FINEST AND MOST EFFICIENT CTLRS IN THE WORLD. THIS IS BEING WRITTEN BECAUSE I FEEL THAT HELI PRESENCE IN HIGH DENSITY ENVIRONMENT, PARTICULARLY AEROMEDICAL, WILL BE GROWING IN THE FUTURE, AND THAT EFFICIENT METHOD FOR ATC HANDLING SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. I REALIZE THAT AN EMS FLT IS ONLY ADDRESSED IN THE AIM AND STATES THAT ATC WILL GIVE PREFERENTIAL HANDLING. I ALSO KNOW THAT THE AIM IS NON REGULATORY IN NATURE AND NEED NOT BE HEEDED, BUT EFFICIENT AND SAFE HANDLING IS NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR.

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.