Arizona pilots based outside the Phoenix area

Platelet Mission

Click on the PDF icon to download and print these instructions

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 Next Night Before

EXAMPLE: You live in Flagstaff and you requested a FLG platelet mission. You would call the Scottsdale Blood Lab Dispatcher the night before to begin your coordination. This is when you and the dispatcher would decide on an In-City airport for platelet pickup and the time you will meet the courier. The Blood Lab is in Scottsdale, but if SDL doesn't work for you, you could tell them that you'd like to pick up the platelets at DVT (either the terminal side or the north side). Other options are CHD, SDL, FFZ, IWA, GEU, GYR, or P19. Whatever airport you decide on, that's where the courier will meet you with the blood product.

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 at 0600.

For this example, the night before the mission, you have asked the dispatcher to have the courier meet you at Falcon Field (KFFZ) 0700.

The Next Morning

You will fly to FFZ and 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.

Report the Mission complete.

Draw Mission (picking up after a blood drive)

Example: You are based at FLG and are assigned a "Draw" mission (blood drive) at the Tuba City airport (T03). You would make arrangements the night before with the UBS dispatcher for a delivery airport in the Phoenix area, such as SDL or DVT.

This mission has a Conf. Time of 1200.

The Pickup Time is scheduled for 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 Supervisor's contact number. We recommend contacting the Supervisor early in the morning to determine if the Unit will finish the draw early.

Call the Mobile Unit Supervisor prior to departing FLG for T03. Confirm the meeting place and ask for a box estimate. If the box estimate exceeds your aircraft capacity, call the Mission Coordinator and request that another pilot & aircraft help with the load.

Depart FLG to arrive T03 at or before 1600.

Arrival at the Pickup Airport (T03)

Call the supervisor when you arrive at 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 & aircraft could not be found to help with the load, take as many as you can carry and leave the remaining boxes with the draw supervisor.

Call the dispatcher and give him or her an ETA at the agreed upon Phoenix area airport.

Arrival at the Delivery Airport

Meet the courier at the designated place and transfer the boxes.

Fly home to FLG.

Report the mission.

Your mission is complete.