RPTR CLAIMS APCH CTL SUPVR WOULD NOT GIVE APPROVAL FOR PRIORITY HANDLING OF A LIFEGUARD ACFT. THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED PRIORITY HANDLING AFTER THE APCH CTLR APPROVED A DIRECT RTE TO THE ARPT.

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RECENTLY; SLC APCH HAS REQUIRED LIFEGUARD FLTS DESTINED SLC TO BE ROUTED THROUGH ARR GATES. THERE IS NO ARR GATE INTO SLC APCH FROM THE E. THEREFORE; LIFEGUARD FLTS FROM E OF SLC ARE DELAYED SEVERAL MINS. THEY REQUIRE THE ACFT TO GO THROUGH GATES WHETHER THEY HAVE ANY TFC OR NOT; AND EVEN WHEN THE ARPT IS VFR. THE EXAMPLE: THE ACFT WAS AN LR35 ICT DIRECT SLC. WHEN THE ACFT WAS OVER CHE; I CALLED FLOW CTL TO APPREQ HIM DIRECT SLC WITH APCH. A FEW MINS LATER; FLOW CALLS BACK AND SAID APCH WANTS THE ACFT OVER SPANE; FOR THE FULL ARR. THAT WOULD DELAY THE ACFT APPROX 14 MINS. WITH A LIFE POTENTIALLY ON THE LINE; WE LEFT THE ACFT DIRECT SLC; AND CALLED THE CTLR AT SLC APCH. THE CTLR APPROVED THE ACFT DIRECT AND TOOK THE HDOF. THE ARPT WAS VFR AND THE LIFEGUARD LANDED WITH NO PROBS AND DID NOT INCONVENIENCE TO ANY OTHER ACFT. THE SUPVR AT APCH CALLED AND COMPLAINED BECAUSE HE WAS THE ONE THAT DISAPPROVED THE FIRST APPREQ; AND HE DIDN'T LIKE US DOUBLE-COORDINATING. THE ENTIRE ISSUE WAS THAT WE HURT HIS EGO. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL LIFEGUARD PLTS; AND THEY ALL CONSIDER THEMSELVES TO BE MEDICAL EMERS. WHY IS APCH WORRIED ABOUT THEIR EGOS WHEN WE ARE DEALING WITH PEOPLES' LIVES? WHAT ARE OUR PRIORITIES? SUPPOSEDLY; THE REGIONAL OFFICE AND NATIONAL FAA OFFICE ARE SUPPORTING APCH ON THE LIFEGUARD ISSUE. THE 7110.65 SAYS TO GIVE LIFEGUARDS 'PRIORITY' HANDLING; BUT APCH IS ABOVE THAT. OUR FIRST PRIORITY IS SAFETY OF ACFT; SECOND IS EXPEDITING EMERS AND LIFEGUARDS. WHY AREN'T WE HELPING SAVE THESE LIVES?