Arizona Pilots based in the Phoenix area

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Platelet Mission

LATEST PLATELET TAKEOFF TIME IS 10:00 AM: Platelets must be delivered to FLG by 11:00 - 11:30 am. Therefore, the Scottsdale Blood Lab requires that you be airborne with the platelet(s), en route to FLG no later than 10:00 am. 

For this example, we'll use Falcon Field (FFZ):

The Night Before

You are based at FFZ and have requested a FLG platelet mission. You would call the Blood Lab's Dispatcher the night before to begin your coordination. You and the dispatcher will decide on a time that you and the courier would meet at FFZ's designated meeting place - (AIRPORT TERMINAL PARKING LOT).
NOTE: On our web site, all Platelet missions indicate a Pickup Time of 0900. However, that's just to give you a starting point. Pilots have been known to request that the courier meet them as early as 0600.

For this example, the night before the mission, you have asked the UBS dispatcher to have the courier meet you at 0700.

The Next Morning

You will meet the courier at 0700
You’ll give the courier your FLG ETA.

Load the platelet box(es) in your aircraft.

Flights for Life recommends that you also call the dispatcher and tell him or her your FLG ETA.

Depart FFZ for FLG.

After landing at FLG, the Wiseman lineman parks you and helps you take the box(es) to the courier who should be waiting for you.

After returning to FFZ, you report the mission.

Mission complete. 

Draw Mission (picking up after a blood drive)

EXAMPLE: You are based at DVT and are assigned a "Draw" mission (blood drive) at the Tuba City airport (T03). This mission has a Conf. Time of 1200 with a Pickup Time of 1600. 

The Day of the Flight

At or before 1200, you would call the dispatcher to confirm that the weather is suitable, etc. and you will be taking the flight.

You would also ask for the Mobile Unit Supervisor's contact number. We recommend contacting the Supervisor early in the morning to determine if the Unit will finish the draw early.

Before Departing your Home Airport (KDVT)

Call the Mobile Unit Supervisor prior to departing your home airport (DVT). Confirm the meeting place and ask for a box estimate.

If the box estimate exceeds your aircraft capacity, call the Mission Coordinator and ask for another pilot & aircraft to help with the load.

Depart your home airport (DVT) to arrive at the draw airport (T03) at or before 1600. 

Arrival at the Pickup Airport (T03)

Call the Mobile Unit Supervisor when you arrive at the draw airport (T03) and meet him or her at the designated place. Confirm the box count.

If there are too many boxes for your aircraft and another pilot could not be found to help with the load, take as many as you can carry and leave the remaining boxes with the Mobile Unit Supervisor.

Call the Scottsdale Dispatcher and give him or her the ETA to your home airport (DVT).

Arrival at the Delivery Airport

Upon arrival at your home airport (DVT), meet the courier at the designated place.

Report the mission.

Your mission is now complete.