ZZZ local controller observed conflict as lifeguard helicopter crossed final and conflicted with tra...

Attributes
ACN	690263
Time
Date	200603
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon tower : zzz.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon tower : zzz.tower
Operator	common carrier : charter
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Experience	controller military : 8 controller radar : 27 controller time certified in position1 : 16
ASRS Report	690263
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical
Independent Detector	other controllera
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

Approach calls me on local and pilots out lifeguard helicopter at 1500 ft MSL; crossing through my final to the hospital. Initially; I state 'point out apvd.' an E145 checks in on an 8 mi final. I ask approach to put the lifeguard helicopter on my frequency. Approach tells me the lifeguard has the E145 in sight. I ask the lifeguard helicopter again if he has the E145 in sight. He says yes. I tell him to maintain visual separation. The E145 reports the helicopter in sight. Next the E145 complains that he had to climb to avoid collision with the helicopter. The helicopter said he had him in sight and was descending. Lifeguard helicopters have priority. They don't need to be delayed. My recommendation is to build in more separation. It should be done on approach control's frequency. The helicopter was crossing at a 2 1/2 mi final. If we hold the arrival at 500 ft above the helicopter; he can't hardly land (he's too high). To use visual separation; the helicopter has to hug the ground or steer off course to go behind the arrival. Approach needs to build the lifeguard helicopter a hole for transition.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZZZ LCL CTLR OBSERVED CONFLICT AS LIFEGUARD HELI CROSSED FINAL AND CONFLICTED WITH TFC ON APCH; BOTH ACFT WERE UTILIZING VISUAL SEPARATION.

Narrative: APCH CALLS ME ON LCL AND PLTS OUT LIFEGUARD HELI AT 1500 FT MSL; XING THROUGH MY FINAL TO THE HOSPITAL. INITIALLY; I STATE 'POINT OUT APVD.' AN E145 CHKS IN ON AN 8 MI FINAL. I ASK APCH TO PUT THE LIFEGUARD HELI ON MY FREQ. APCH TELLS ME THE LIFEGUARD HAS THE E145 IN SIGHT. I ASK THE LIFEGUARD HELI AGAIN IF HE HAS THE E145 IN SIGHT. HE SAYS YES. I TELL HIM TO MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION. THE E145 RPTS THE HELI IN SIGHT. NEXT THE E145 COMPLAINS THAT HE HAD TO CLB TO AVOID COLLISION WITH THE HELI. THE HELI SAID HE HAD HIM IN SIGHT AND WAS DSNDING. LIFEGUARD HELIS HAVE PRIORITY. THEY DON'T NEED TO BE DELAYED. MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO BUILD IN MORE SEPARATION. IT SHOULD BE DONE ON APCH CTL'S FREQ. THE HELI WAS XING AT A 2 1/2 MI FINAL. IF WE HOLD THE ARR AT 500 FT ABOVE THE HELI; HE CAN'T HARDLY LAND (HE'S TOO HIGH). TO USE VISUAL SEPARATION; THE HELI HAS TO HUG THE GND OR STEER OFF COURSE TO GO BEHIND THE ARR. APCH NEEDS TO BUILD THE LIFEGUARD HELI A HOLE FOR TRANSITION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

ZZZ local controller observed conflict as lifeguard helicopter crossed final and conflicted with traffic on approach; both aircraft were utilizing visual separation.