Airlines: Who’s Doing What for Haiti
The earthquake in Haiti that decimated the island nation’s largest city and much of the surrounding area, continues to be an extremely challenging set of disaster relief problems and human needs, rivaled only by the 2004 tsunami in lower Asia in which more than 500,000 people perished.
The official death toll as of January 28 is 170,000+ dead. Estimates for the total number of dead, which includes those not yet accounted for, exceed 250,000. Over half of Port-au-Prince’s population of 2 million people is in need of emergency shelter; almost all are currently dependent on outside aid groups and transport providers for food, water, medical care, and basic subsistence.
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Ex-United DC-10 to Become New Airborne Eye Hospital
by David Kaminski-Morrow
Flightglobal.com
Orbis International, the eye-surgery charity, is to replace its ageing McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 with a DC-10-30 to be donated by its ex-operator, United Airlines, and FedEx.
The organisation’s DC-10-10, registered N220AU, was the second DC-10 off the production line and first flew in late 1970.
It was in service with carriers including Laker Airways and Cal Air International before being transferred to Orbis in 1992 and fitted out as an airborne eye hospital. It includes an ophthalmic surgical centre and training facilities.
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[This YouTube video shows Orbis at work aboard the current DC-10-10. Truly a wonderful organization. -Ed.]
