Air Seychelles shows off ‘flying ambulance’ |08 October 2010

The plane is on a long-term charter contract to the UK’s Ministry of Defence, and British high commissioner Matthew Forbes looked round it on Tuesday along with the airline’s executive chairman Captain David Savy.

Mr Forbes described the contract as fantastic, saying the plane – which operates on the London-Falklands route – is providing a vital service to the UK government as the Falkland Islands are among the most isolated on earth.

Since the islands house a British military base, the UK government needed to find the best carrier to transport passengers while at the same time acting as an air ambulance.

This is because the Falklands does not have full medical facilities, and sick or wounded staff often have to be airlifted to Britain; tenders were invited from airlines that could provide both the expertise and the capacity in this line.

Air Seychelles, with over 20 years’ experience of flying to remote small island states, fitted the bill perfectly and won the contract. This, Capt Savy said in his presentation at the company’s annual general meeting on Wednesday, has been the envy of many bigger airlines.

During his visit to the Vallée de Mai, Mr Forbes was able to try out the new lie-flat seats fitted in the Pearl Class and inspect the rear cabin, which has been turned into a medical area. This has two stretcher beds and acts as a life-support system with full equipment for doctors to attend to patients.

The combined effect of the Pearl Class comfort and the lifesaving medical cabin drew a satisfied response from the high commissioner.