BE10 crew complains that their lifeguard aircraft was not given priority handing by ATC.

Attributes
ACN	465003
Time
Date	200003
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tol.airport
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl single value : 2600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tol.tracon
Operator	common carrier : charter
Make Model Name	King Air 100 A/B
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tol.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-8 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : charter
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 58 flight time total : 370 flight time type : 15
ASRS Report	465003
Person 2
Affiliation	company : charter
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

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.

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.