KARACHI – A modern aircraft, named Cessna T206H Turbo Stationair, has been added to the fleet with an aim to strengthen Edhi air ambulance service and help people in emergencies.
The aircraft will provide faster access to health care services in case of emergencies and catastrophes.
The six-seater plane will help carry out rescue efforts in remote areas. The operation cost of the jet is Rs50,000 per hour. The jet has been bought for Rs55 million.
The Edhi Air Ambulance Service already has a Piper Seneca aircraft and a Bell 206 helicopter to provide assistance during natural disasters. Its per hour cost ranged between Rs70,000 and Rs80,000.
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Edhi Foundation’s managing trustee Faisal Edhi handed over the six-seat Cessna 206 to the charity’s air ambulance wing at the old Karachi airport.
Faisal Edhi said the air ambulance service was offered free of charge in case of any major disaster or catastrophe, adding that the fleet can provide airlift services to stranded or injured people and immediately shift them to nearby hospital during a crisis.
Faisal Edhi further said that it was difficult to carry out rescue operations due to the closure of Pakistani airspace during recent Pak-India tensions.
Edhi Foundation had earlier suspended its air ambulance service after the death of chief pilot Captain Imtiaz in 2014.
