An Airbus A340-300 aircraft, which is chartered from Lufthansa by the German Foreign office, has been converted into a hospital aircraft with isolation chambers for patients diagnosed as suffering from Ebola. The aircraft is equipped with Panasonic’s eXConnect system, which gives the on-board crew and medical staff direct wi-fi internet access and email services for air-to-ground communications during emergency flights from Africa to overseas care facilities.
The flights will be operated by volunteer pilots and flight attendants and will be available for any country which needs to transport Ebola patients.
The aircraft is due to be available for its missions starting in December. The number of fatalities from the virus has now surpassed 5,400. For discussion on how the risk of Ebola – and other diseases – in air transport can be reduced, see our feature HERE.
