KARACHI – Faisal Edhi, son of late philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi has said that his foundation was all set to resume air ambulance service in Pakistan to help people in emergencies and catastrophes.
In an exclusive conversation with The News, Faisal said that the Edhi Foundation had six-seater Piper Seneca aircraft and it plans to purchase more.
He said the organization launched its air ambulance service in late 80s but it was discontinued.
‘Edhi Foundation has retained an aircraft for 23 years at the Karachi airport. The plane took part in various rescue missions including a train accident in Khanewal 15 years ago’ said Faisal who now heads Edhi foundation.
He said the aircraft recently conducted a test flight that was not approved by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), expressing the hope that the foundation would get the approval within a couple of days.
‘The services will be resumed soon. A huge amount has been spent on the aircraft’s repairing. We are working to build a team and a pilot has also been hired’ he noted.
Faisal claimed that he was a trained pilot having completed 40 hours of flying with a trainer and two hours of solo flight during training program at a flying school in England back in 2001.
‘I was not able to complete the course as Abdul Sattar Edhi was invited to the United Nations and wanted me to come back to Pakistan to represent me there. Later I couldn’t pursue my dream due to other commitments,’ he said, vowing to complete his flying course either in Pakistan or abroad to pursue his dreams.
Talking about his future plans, Faisal Edhi said: We intends to buy a 14-seater aircraft to help stranded people in emergencies.
