Not very long ago, I was taxiing for departure and noted a Lear moving our way from the ramp. Ground was working several helicopters and several other movements. The pilot made his "Lifeguard" call and the N numbers matched, so we stopped. So did 8 other bizjets headed for the same area. The Lear continued to taxi and stopped just short of the taxiway.
Ground ignored the Lear. The pilot called two more times and you could hear the "this is critical" in the pilot's voice. Requests for taxis and so on stopped. Ground continued to ignore the Lear, issuing instructions for helicopters and other taxiing aircraft. Finally, an unknown voice, "Ground, you have a Lifeguard flight, for god's sake clear him for taxi and takeoff."
There was a short pause, and a different voice came on and cleared the Lear to taxi and takeoff, right turn, proceed direct.
Fortunately, the pilot was aware of his surroundings and didn't jet blast us. As soon as his tail was pointed at a Gulfstream instead of the GA types in the runup, he was full power taxi and gone.
Need priority? Ask, if ATC won't cooperate, there are several thousand pilots out there that will. Don't let the occasional a$$ or scared student pilot (an emergency in progress) cause you frustration.
Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein
Ground ignored the Lear. The pilot called two more times and you could hear the "this is critical" in the pilot's voice. Requests for taxis and so on stopped. Ground continued to ignore the Lear, issuing instructions for helicopters and other taxiing aircraft. Finally, an unknown voice, "Ground, you have a Lifeguard flight, for god's sake clear him for taxi and takeoff."
There was a short pause, and a different voice came on and cleared the Lear to taxi and takeoff, right turn, proceed direct.
Fortunately, the pilot was aware of his surroundings and didn't jet blast us. As soon as his tail was pointed at a Gulfstream instead of the GA types in the runup, he was full power taxi and gone.
Need priority? Ask, if ATC won't cooperate, there are several thousand pilots out there that will. Don't let the occasional a$$ or scared student pilot (an emergency in progress) cause you frustration.
Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein
