Page 36 - AAA MAY - JUNE 2015 Online Magazine

NEWS

INduSTRy NEWS ANd uPdATES

A Flying Intensive Care Unit
Lufthansa has launched a globally
unique “flying intensive care unit” on
all its planes in the entire long-haul
fleet from June. The Patient Transport
Compartment (PTC) was developed
by the technology company Lufthansa
Technik in cooperation with Lufthansa’s
Medical Service.
Lufthansa will offer its PTC in its
entire network of long-haul flights
Airbus Ships Components for A320 Family Production in the US leaving from its hubs in the German
The first large aircraft components Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and cities of Frankfurt and Munich. The
destined for Airbus A320 family aircraft CEO. “North America is one of the company has already been using the
production in Mobile, Alabama, USA largest single-aisle aircraft markets in PTC on its Boeing 747-400 and Airbus
have been shipped by Airbus from the the world. This manufacturing facility A340 and A330 aircraft types since
Hamburg port in Germany. brings us closer to our customers, and 1999. A total of up to 100 intensive
The shipment contains major strengthens the aerospace industry in care patients are transported in the
component assemblies (MCAs), the U.S., Europe and around the world. PTC by Lufthansa every year. A further
manufactured in various European Production will begin in just a few developed version of the PTC has now
countries such as the Wings (UK), rear weeks, with first delivery scheduled for been designed for the Airbus A380 and
fuselage (Germany) including the tail 2016.” The first aircraft to be produced Boeing 747-8 sub-fleets and installed in
cone (Spain) and the cockpit and forward at the U.S. manufacturing facility is an the modern long-haul jets.
fuselage produced in France. The A321ceo due for delivery to JetBlue next The PTC boasts a multitude of
shipment also contains the horizontal and year. The facility which is the fourth of its advantages compared to a conventional
vertical stabilizers which are produced in kind along with other Airbus production air ambulance, for example a time saving
Spain and Germany respectively. facilities in Toulouse, France; Hamburg, of up to 50 percent due to the fact that it
“This is a day of celebration as we Germany; and Tianjin, China will is installed in an airliner and lower costs.
reach another important milestone in assemble and deliver A319, A320 and The spacious interior of the PTC offers
aircraft production in the U.S.,” said A321 airplanes. enough space for a patient bed, two seats
for the doctor treating the patient and a
Jet Aviation Saudi Arabia Expands Maintenance Capabilities Lufthansa crew member (PTC Medical
Jet Aviation Saudi Arabia has recently customers in Jeddah and Riyadh,” said Crew Member) and intensive care
added a new nickel- cadmium (Ni-Cd) Alain Champonnois, vice president and equipment together with the required
Battery Shop to its facilities. The Battery general manager of Jet Aviation Saudi material and medication.
Shop became operational in June. Arabia. “Our goal is to provide our “With its wide range of medical
With a fully equipped Battery Shop clients the best support possible and products, Lufthansa is the world’s
on-site in Jeddah, Jet Aviation Saudi the Battery Shop is our latest initiative leading airline. Patients who do not
Arabia is able to check, charge and aimed at improving efficiency and require intensive care with a PTC can
overhaul most battery models at its reducing aircraft downtime.” book medical services such as the so-
facility rather than outsourcing the work. Jet Aviation Saudi Arabia is a long- called “stretcher” or, where necessary,
“We are very pleased to introduce standing joint venture company with a separate oxygen supply for their flight
an in-house battery service for our Saudi Arabian partners. in advance.

36 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS MAY / JUNE 2015 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM