LOT Polish Airlines has become the third airline in Europe to employ a medical transport aircraft, and the first to make the long distance model of the type available to patients. Two Boeing 767-300 aircraft have been certified to carry out MEDEVAC-type flights.
These aircraft carry out ordinary passenger flights for LOT Polish Airlines on an everyday basis. However, should it be necessary to adapt for a medical evacuation, technical staff will need only 24 hours to install 18 stretcher beds, including one ICU (Intensive Care Unit). The entire preparation operation will not exceed 48 hours. The LOT Polish Airlines aircraft will serve, among other purposes, to transport injured people from natural disaster areas.
The LOT Polish Airlines aircraft have been certified for commercial flights through an extension of the carrier’s Air Operations Certificate (AOC) by the Civil Aviation Office. One of the conditions of the extension of the certificate was the completion of a partial evacuation of the aircraft under the supervision of CAO inspectors. Time constraints proved to be a particular obstacle. The evacuation could not last more than ten seconds, and half of the exits were blocked by the CAO inspectors. The LOT Polish Airlines crew carried out the evacuation in under 7 seconds, which was a significant challenge and a pleasant surprise for the CAO inspectors.
A demonstration of the partial evacuation of the 767-300 MEDEVAC aircraft was prepared by representatives of LOT Polish Airlines for the press and special guests. The LOT Polish Airlines flight and cabin crew demonstrated their skills in carrying out the partial evacuation in accordance with accepted emergency procedures (interrupted takeoff, leaving the runway, and evacuation).
We are giving Europe not only the largest aircraft of this type, but also a specially selected and trained crew. We are very proud the national air fleet will feature an aircraft with these kinds of capabilities. We dedicated a great deal of hard work, commitment, and heart to this project, thanks to which we have expanded the range of services that LOT can provide – said Dariusz Sarnociñski, Leader of the MEDEVAC TEST Team at LOT Polish Airlines.
