Delayed due to "medical emergency on inbound aircraft"

[Mattg]

As the thread title suggests, flight this evening was delayed by (we were told) a "medical emergency on the inbound aircraft". The delay was only around half an hour but I've nearly heard of that happening before. Does this happen often? What would the emergency most likely be?

 

[LiamR]

If I had to guess, without knowing the details something like this sounds likely.

SYD-BNE, 30mins into flight passenger has a heart attack, Captain calls HQ and is advised to land at Coffs Harbour.

Land at CFS, take off passenger, refuel a bit and takeoff for BNE. Usually around 45mins to do this.

Aircraft takes off, and flies to BNE.

I've had a passenger with an emergency three times this year, once we had to land for him to seek urgent medical attention.

 

[samh004]

Could have been a heart attack or maybe an allergic reaction to some food on board. Could be anything, even a death onboard might have delayed the flight I guess.

 

[harvyk]

The emergency could be anything which the cap't decides is worthy of a diversion,

it doesn't happen often.

 

[markis10]

If I had to guess, without knowing the details something like this sounds likely.

SYD-BNE, 30mins into flight passenger has a heart attack, Captain calls HQ and is advised to land at Coffs Harbour.

Land at CFS, take off passenger, refuel a bit and takeoff for BNE. Usually around 45mins to do this.

Aircraft takes off, and flies to BNE.

I've had a passenger with an emergency three times this year, once we had to land for him to seek urgent medical attention.

A stop over such as described is unlikely to take anything less than 90 minutes, descent ascent adds 40 odd minutes alone not to mention time on the ground.

I suspect the delay was due to the ground handling requirements after the flight, that is, get ambos onboard and give them priority for egress.

 

[leemin]

Although the description doesn't quite fit, the other possibility would have been an emergency medical escort.

Private jets chartered by hospitals to transport organs (hearts etc.) for transplant are given priority access to runways and are met on the tarmac by a police escort to take the organ and surgeons on board to the hospital under Code 1 conditions.

My understanding is that air traffic and ground control gives these aircraft complete priority.


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[markis10]

Although the description doesn't quite fit, the other possibility would have been an emergency medical escort.

Private jets chartered by hospitals to transport organs (hearts etc.) for transplant are given priority access to runways and are met on the tarmac by a police escort to take the organ and surgeons on board to the hospital under Code 1 conditions.

My understanding is that air traffic and ground control gives these aircraft complete priority.


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Not ultimate priority, aircraft with a life at stake on the plane get the highest although a HOSP aircraft would have priority over RPT ops

ATC will regulate operations to minimise the possibility of conflict and, provided that safety is in no way jeopardised, will apply priorities in the following order:
a. An aircraft in an emergency, including being subjected to unlawful interference, will be given priority in all circumstances.​

b. A multi-engined aircraft which has suffered the loss of an engine and has not been subject to a SAR phase, or has not been considered under the provision of sub-paragraph

a. above, shall be granted priority for landing.​

c. An aircraft which has suffered radio communications failure will be granted priority for landing.

d. An aircraft which has declared a Mercy flight.

e. An aircraft participating in a Search and Rescue (SAR), Medical (MED 1), Hospital Aircraft (HOSP), or Fire and Flood Relief (FFR) flights shall be granted priority as necessary.
f. An aircraft operating under police callsign “POLAIR RED” or “FEDPOL RED” engaged in
operations where life is at risk.
g. An aircraft engaged in the personal transport of Heads of State or of Government, or other selected dignitaries on official visits to Australia, or the personal transport of the Governor-General or the Prime Minister.
h. A landing aircraft will have priority over a departing aircraft if the latter cannot take off with prescribed separation standards.
i. An aircraft landing or taking off will be given priority over taxiing aircraft.
j. An aircraft which is first able to use the landing area, or desired airspace, in the normal course of its operations will be given priority except:
1) an RVSM-approved aircraft will be given priority for level requests between FL290 and
FL410 inclusive over aircraft not RVSM-approved;
2) within ATS surveillance system coverage, identified aircraft will be given priority over nonidentified aircraft;
3) when significant economic benefit would result for a number of other aircraft by deferring this priority;
4) that a flight desiring to operate in other than the normal pattern for operational reasons will be given the same priority as other flights unless it involves a short-notice change to a clearance already issued to another aircraft (in this case, permission to operate will be deferred);
5) controllers may adjust priorities to consolidate a group of aircraft operating in other than the normal pattern in order to minimise conflictions or simplify traffic management; and
6) when prior arrangement has been made for AsA aircraft engaged in navigation aids checks, and a priority predetermined with ATC.

10.2 Training flights will be given the same priority as other flights except that:
a. flights operating in the traffic pattern in general use will be given priority over flights desiring to operate in conflicting patterns for training purposes;
b. when a training instrument approach is approved, priority will be given to that aircraft from the time it commences its final approach until the approach is completed.

10.3 Notwithstanding sub-paragraph 10.1 j., during periods when all requirements for operation in a capital city civil CTR or the overlying control area cannot be accommodated, priority will be given in the following order:
a. with equal status:
1) scheduled commercial air transport operations;
2) non-scheduled commercial air transport operations;
3) military aircraft (other than training flights);
4) aircraft engaged in the personal transport of:State Governors or the Administrator of the Northern Territory, State Premiers or Chief Ministers of Territories;​

​

5) aircraft participating in Medical (MED 2) operations;

b. with equal status:

1) general aviation aircraft proceeding to a primary aerodrome;
2) military and civil training flights; and
c. other operations.

10.4 Notwithstanding paragraph 10.3, at Sydney, the following order of priorities will apply:
a. with equal status:
1) scheduled commercial air transport operations into and out of Sydney;
2) non-scheduled commercial air transport operations of BA146 and heavier types to and from
Sydney (Kingsford Smith) aerodrome;
3) military aircraft, except training flights;
4) aircraft engaged in the personal transport of:State Governors or the Administrator of the Northern Territory,State Premiers or the Chief Ministers of the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory;​

5) MED 2 operations;

b. all other non-scheduled commercial air transport operations proceeding to and from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) or Sydney/Bankstown aerodromes not covered in sub-sub-paragraph a.(2.)
above, excluding balloons;
c. with equal status:
1) general aviation aircraft proceeding to or from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) or Sydney/
Bankstown aerodromes;
2) military and civil training flights; and​

​

d. other operations.

 

[QF WP]

We're always bound to get a complete answer from markis10 . Now I can quote this, knowing that it is gospel :idea:.

 

[leemin]

We're always bound to get a complete answer from markis10 . Now I can quote this, knowing that it is gospel :idea:.

Ditto. Thanks Markis10!


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[markis10]

In case your wondering what the difference is with the various medical priorities:

Unlike the drivers that are often at the intersection outside my work who ignore ambulances, all the ATCs I know will work their hardest to make sure a MED aircraft has the shortest possible flight!