24 April 2020 07:45 pm
The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) said it has modified a Y-12 aircraft as an air ambulance which is capable of conducting medical evacuation operations for critically ill ventilated patients if required by health officials in their effort to control the COVID-19 outbreak.
The SLAF said the No 8 Squadron at SLAF Base Ratmalana has modified the Y-12 aircraft as an Air Ambulance on the instructions of the Air Force Commander Sumangala Dias.
The modified aircraft has been fitted with a specially designed Medical Evacuation Kit which is equipped with a ventilator, infusion pumps and vital sign monitors as well, which can be used for critically ill and ventilated patients.
Due to the versatility of the aircraft the medial crew has more space to attend to the patient. A special detachable Medical Evacuation Bed was also designed by the Aeronautical Engineering Support Wing at SLAF Base Ratmalana.
The No 8 Squadron conducted an air test at SLAF Base Ratmalana on Thursday where all systems of this new modification was checked in air.
The SLAF said that the air test was successful in all aspects and the mission was captained by the Commanding Officer of the No 8 Squadron, Group Captain Amal Perera.