FedEx Express helps Orbis take eye hospital to the skies in Dubai

November 16, 2017: Showcasing its three decade-old relationship with non-profit non-governmental organization Orbis, FedEx Express hosted a tour of the MD-10 flying eye hospital at the recently held Dubai Airshow.

Since 1982 FedEx has extended its support to Orbis to achieve its humanitarian vision of a world of saving sight in the developing world.

The tour was led by Taarek Hinedi, vice president of FedEx Express Middle East and Africa Operations, and Bruce Johnson, Director, Aircraft Operations, Orbis.

Till date, Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, which is an airborne ophthalmic care masterpiece trotted about 92 countries, and conducted 287 training and service programs across 160 cities.

FedEx Express provides financial, operational and logistical support to Orbis, besides access to developed countries through its global network, including volunteer pilots, maintenance and ground support, thereby serving as a translator to transport medical supplies.

Orbis has a massive three engine wide-body airplane that functions as a fully equipped mobile teaching hospital. It has the ability to fly an entire ophthalmic hospital and teaching facility directly to developing countries so that local doctors can learn the latest, best medical methods for treating their patients.

Meanwhile, Orbis has retrofitted its next-generation flying eye hospital with MD-10 aircraft that FedEx donated to it in 2011. The new plane is state-of-the-art, according to Johnny Cooper, Director of Corporate Partnerships at Orbis.

“The flying eye hospital is equipped with the latest technical features and applications in engineering, materials, design and communications innovations into the MD-10 freighter platform,” he said.