The Flying Eye Hospital, an extraordinary blend of aviation innovation and medical outreach, travels across the globe to train local doctors and perform life-changing surgeries. Before landing in Dubai, the team completed missions in Rwanda and will next travel to Ghana. Each visit includes one week of simulation-based medical training followed by two weeks of surgical procedures — with participating physicians performing up to 30 operations per week. Cataract surgery remains the most common treatment, and 70% of procedures are performed on children.

 

The hospital’s aircraft — a McDonnell Douglas MD-10, originally a combi plane capable of carrying both cargo and passengers — was donated by FedEx and transformed into a fully equipped airborne hospital. It is powered by three GE Aerospace CF6-50C2 engines, symbolising the long-standing partnership between GE Aerospace and Orbis.

 

Onboard, the facilities rival any ground-based hospital. The aircraft features a state-of-the-art operating theatre, complete with training simulators and live video screens for education. It is also self-sufficient, generating its own power, producing hospital-grade purified water, and creating its own oxygen supply.

 

Setting up the mobile hospital requires substantial logistical support on the ground. GE Aerospace volunteers were instrumental in preparing the systems — from starting the onboard power generators to activating the cooling and water infrastructure — ensuring the aircraft was ready for operations.

 

The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital stands as a testament to what can be achieved when technology and compassion unite. Supported by a global network of partners, it continues to transform lives and strengthen healthcare systems around the world. GE Aerospace’s involvement reaffirms its commitment to using aviation innovation to improve lives and expand access to medical care globally.