Helicopter
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Procedure
I was doing OJT on Local South position. I was the instructor. A helicopter called 2 miles south at 1;500 FT wanting to land at a nearby hospital which is 2 miles north. The helicopter was flying at 160 KTS. The trainee instructed the helicopter to go northbound 1 mile west at or below 500 FT; which is the helicopter preferred routing per our LOA. The helicopter said they were unable and asked to go over the top of the airport at 1;000 FT. So the trainee said unable over the top of the airport continue northbound from present position and remain south of the final for traffic. The helicopter said they could not hold that they were on a lifeguard mission and they need to go direct to the hospital. So I keyed up and instructed the helicopter to go northbound from their present position and suggested a heading of 360 degrees at or below 1;000 FT and that I would put them through the final. The trainee issued traffic calls to the helicopter and a B190 that was on about a 5 mile final for Runway 9R. The helicopter had traffic in sight and was passing behind. In the meantime; an aircraft was in position on Runway 9R to depart VFR to the northeast. I instructed the trainee to clear the aircraft for take off. The trainee proceeded to issue traffic to the helicopter on the aircraft that was on final for Runway 9L. The helicopter stated that they had traffic in sight and would pass behind. The final traffic was at 1;200 FT and the helicopter was at 900 FT. I had both an A320 and the helicopter in sight. I informed the Tower Cab that the helicopter was passing behind the landing traffic. The landing traffic informed the Tower that he was responding to an RA; but was still able to land. I was later informed that the landing aircraft was going to file this incident as a NMAC. Recommendation; all helicopters; regardless of type of flight lifeguard or not; follow airport procedures.
TRACON Controller described a TCAS RA and filed NMAC involving landing Air Carrier traffic and an EMS helicopter passing behind to land at a near by hospital; the reporter indicated the helicopter had the landing traffic in sight.