Levels of Response

Flight For Life Colorado offers many levels of response. Requesting parties may ask for any of the following levels of helicopter response or, with the help of our Communications Center, a response will be tailored to your immediate need:

Standby:
 
Requested if the need for the helicopter is possible but not established. This allows pilots to check weather conditions for the response area. The flight team can prepare for flight and will be ready to launch.

Airborne Standby:

This term is used when the helicopter is likely to be needed. The helicopter is launched, and moves toward the scene. This places the helicopter at the immediate disposal of the ground crew and saves valuable time for potentially critical patients.

*NOTE: Many times the helicopter may arrive near the scene as the ground crews arrive. The helicopter crew will not contact the ground crew and will not overfly the scene, so as not to add confusion, but will be monitoring the scene on a pre-designated radio frequency.  If Flight For Life Colorado is not needed, simply cancel the flight request.

Go:

This term is used when ground crews determine that a helicopter is definitely needed.  In most cases the Flight for Life Colorado helicopter teams are off the ground in less then 5 minutes.  Any "Standby" or "Airborne Standby" can be upgraded to a "Go" on the determination of the ground crew.