Edward T Cloonan - President of ORBIS launches the MD-10 Flying Eye Hospital Project ORBIS, world’s only operator of the Flying Eye Hospital, has chosen to replace their aging DC-10 with a MD-10 aircraft. This is made possible with a $10 million gift from ORBIS Chairman and Founder A.L. Ueltschi, which enabled the work to begin in 2008. The balance of the $30 million project—including the cost of acquiring a DC-10-30, its conversion to an MD-10, and the installation of the Flying Eye Hospital with new medical equipment, audio visual suite and communication systems—is being assembled today by a consortium of companies through direct contributions or gift-in-kind donations. Lead by Mohan Jacob Thazhathu, ORBIS Chief Operating Officer, a four year effort finally materialized when FedEx and United Airlines jointly donated a DC-10 aircraft for conversion. FedEx has offered the services of their veteran executive Jack McHale, Managing Director for Aircraft Acquisitions to manage this project. A FOUR-PHASE UNDERTAKING, The Flying Eye Hospital conversion project is expected to take two years to complete. When the new plane is ready—anticipated mid-2010—the current Flying Eye Hospital will be retired. MD-10 PROJECT TEAM A conversion team, consisting of medical and ophthalmology specialists, and design and engineering experts from several organizations, has been assembled to determine the design and architectural modification necessary to convert the freighter into a state-of-the-art ophthalmic medical facility. ORBIS staff is proud to work alongside talented individuals from FedEx, Boeing, Honeywell and University of California, Los Angeles on this humanitarian endeavour.

1. “ORBIS is evolving and, with our new Flying Eye Hospital, we are redefining our approach to making a sus-
tainable difference in eye care. Beyond an innovative training facility, the plane is a tool to build long-term
partnerships, a channel for policy change, and an effective means to raise awareness and resources for the
plight of the needlessly blind throughout the developing world.” — Edward T. Cloonan, President, ORBIS International The ORBIS MD-10 Project
A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT
An extraordinary alliance between the medical and aviation industries is being forged to make the MD-10 Creating the third generation of the world’s
conversion project possible. Its foundation is a $10 million gift from ORBIS Chairman and Co-Founder
A.L. Ueltschi, which enabled work to begin in 2008. only airborne ophthalmic teaching hospital
The balance of the $30 million project—including the cost of acquiring a DC-10-30, its conversion to
an MD-10, and the installation of the Flying Eye Hospital with new medical equipment, audio visual suite TO KEEP HOPE ALOFT
and communication systems—is being assembled today by a consortium of companies through direct Since its first mission to Panama in 1982, ORBIS International’s Flying Eye Hospital has delivered hope
contributions or gift-in-kind donations. and help to more than 75 countries. The current plane, a DC-10-10 is approaching 40 years old and
rapidly nearing the end of its projected lifespan. It was the second aircraft to be converted by ORBIS
Photo: Kiran Ridley
• United Airlines and FedEx jointly donated the DC-10-30 aircraft. to play this unique role and has been in service with the nonprofit organization since 1994. With this
Photo: Geoff Oliver Bugbee
in mind, ORBIS has begun the process of replacing it with a newer, more efficient aircraft.
• Honeywell is the major manufacture of the plane’s avionics, which involves an advanced flight deck
with MD-11 cockpit above the floor and a Boeing 777 avionic compartment below the floor. The replacement project has taken on added urgency with the planned phase-out of DC-10s by FedEx,
Honeywell, a longtime supporter of ORBIS, has renewed its commitment by donating an entire ORBIS’ leading aviation sponsor. In order for ORBIS to continue benefiting from FedEx sponsorship, the
ship set to the MD-10 Flying Eye Hospital. Flying Eye Hospital will have to align with FedEx’s future operating fleet.
• Boeing is the primary contract in the conversion of the vintage cockpit and flight hardware from analog The new Flying Eye Hospital will be a DC-10-30 aircraft, jointly donated to ORBIS in 2008 by FedEx
to digital flight controls, parts and technical support. Boeing has always been a strong supporter of and United Airlines. Formerly serving as an air freight carrier, the plane will soon be refitted to the
ORBIS, most recently providing assistance to the current Flying Eye Hospital. specifications of an MD-10, then converted in a two-year process into a fully equipped teaching
hospital. Once brought into service, it is expected to meet ORBIS’ needs for a full 20 years.
• Aeronavali, which has the world’s only approved facility for the extensive modification of a DC-10
aircraft to an MD-10, is expected to perform the modification at their facilities in Italy. Like Boeing, NEW TECHNOLOGIES, GREATER EFFICIENCIES
Aeronavali has provided much needed assistance to ORBIS over the last 15 years. The MD-10 configuration will introduce a variety of benefits that will lower operating costs of the Flying
Eye Hospital while increasing treatment and training capacity. For instance, the MD-10 requires only two
• University of California, Los Angeles and ORBIS are in the process of forging an alliance, involving pilots instead of three. And because of its larger cargo doors, it will allow the hospital conversion to be
all aspects of the Flying Eye Hospital. Through this collaboration, we hope to design and create the accomplished with the use of economical pre-produced modules instead of custom work.
most advanced ophthalmic training facility to meet the needs of our partners and patients.
The MD-10 also has a flying range of 6,000 miles versus the current DC-10’s 4,000 miles.The expanded range
ABOUT ORBIS INTERNATIONAL will enable ORBIS to avoid technical stops involving higher fuel prices charged at out-of-the-way stations.
ORBIS International is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to saving sight worldwide. Since 1982, Additionally, greener materials and recycled goods will be used whenever possible in the conversion and
ORBIS programs have benefited people in 86 hospital building process. As a teaching platform, the ORBIS MD-10 Flying Eye Hospital will model best
countries, enhanced the skills of more than 195,000 practices and cutting-edge technologies in healthcare.
health care personnel, and provided eye care to
more than 6.8 million people. To learn more about “The ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital is the most original and constructive
ORBIS, please visit www.orbis.org. Photo: Geoff Oliver Bugbee
use of an airplane I’ve ever seen, and is the foundation of the
FOR MORE INFORMATION organization’s sight-saving work. Fueled by an entrepreneurial spirit,
EMAIL MD-10PROJECT@ORBIS.ORG
ORBIS is a bold and effective undertaking that enables medical
communities everywhere to share knowledge and skills, and inspires
people and governments to join forces in the fight against blindness.
The importance and value of this project is immeasurable.”
ORBIS International | 520 Eighth Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 — A.L. Ueltschi, Chairman, ORBIS International and Chairman, Flight Safety International
Tel 1-800-ORBIS-US | www.orbis.org | MD-10project@orbis.org
30 JAN 2009

2. Proposed MD-10 Flying Eye Hospital Interior
MD-10 PROJECT TIMELINE
PHASE 1 - (Apr – May 08) PHASE 3 - (Dec 09 – Apr 10) 3/08 4/08 5/08 6/08 7/08 8/08 9/08 10/08 11/08 12/08 1/09 2/09 3/09 4/09 5/09 6/09 7/09 8/09 9/09 10/09 11/09 12/09 1/10 2/10 3/10 4/10 5/10
Acquisition of DC-10-30, which Conversion to MD-10
ORBIS registers as N323FE
PHASE 4 - (Jun 08 – Mar 10)
PHASE 2 - (Sep 08 – Jan 09) Hospital configuration
C-check and maintenance
A FOUR-PHASE UNDERTAKING Additional project oversight is provided by ORBIS International’s Board of Directors, which includes AIRCRAFT
The Flying Eye Hospital conversion project will be carried out in four phases and is expected to take a unique conglomerate of industry leaders in aviation, healthcare and philanthropy. Board Chairman TECHNICAL
two years to complete. When the new plane is ready—anticipated mid-2010—the current Flying Eye A.L. Uelstchi, a pioneer in aviation safety, founded FlightSafety International, the world’s largest provider SPECIFICATIONS
Hospital will be retired. Until then, it will continue to carry out a full program schedule, which in 2009 of aviation services and training, and then helped ORBIS turn its daring vision of using aviation to
deliver eye care to the poorest parts of world into a reality. Manufacturer
includes programs in Laos, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Syria, Kenya, India and Bangladesh. McDonnell-Douglas
Model
CORE PROJECT TEAM DC-10-30 (To be
CHICAGO, April 7, 2008 — At a press conference held at United
A conversion team, consisting of medical and ophthalmology specialists, and design and engineering converted to
Airlines headquarters, ORBIS announces the replacement of its cur-
experts from several organizations, has been assembled to determine the design and architectural mod- MD-10-30F)
rent DC-10 Flying Eye Hospital with a DC-10 Series 30 freighter.The
ification necessary to convert the freighter into a state-of-the-art ophthalmic medical facility. ORBIS new, more efficient aircraft is generously donated by United Airlines Year Built
employees are proud to work alongside talented individuals from FedEx, Boeing, Honeywell and and FedEx with an estimated value of US$3 million. United, the found- 1979
University of California, Los Angeles on this humanitarian endeavor. ing airline sponsor of ORBIS, donated the first Flying Eye Hospital, a
DC-8, which took off in 1982. FedEx, a global sponsor of ORBIS, sup- Aircraft Type
Managing the MD-10 project is Jack McHale who, upon retirement from his full-time duties at FedEx as Fixed-wing three-engine
plies the aircraft with volunteer pilots, replacement parts, routine
the managing director of aircraft acquisitions, agreed to spearhead the acquirement and modification of maintenance and much more. By helping to create the next genera- Engine Type
the next generation Flying Eye Hospital. The MD-10 project management team, which also includes tion Flying Eye Hospital, United and FedEx pledge to assist ORBIS in Turbojet CF6-50C2
Mohan Thazhathu and Noelle Whitestone, welcomes your questions. delivering the gift of sight to countless individuals for years to come.
Weight
Pictured from right to left: Jim Parker, senior VP, air operations for FedEx and ORBIS board member; Peter D. Maximum Gross
• Jack McHale, ORBIS director of aircraft affairs, jack.mchale@orbis.org
Photos: Tim Soter McDonald, chief administrative officer, United Airlines; Al Ueltschi, ORBIS chairman; Tom Knight, ORBIS board mem- Takeoff 565,000 lbs
• Mohan Thazhathu, ORBIS chief operating officer, mohan.thazhathu@orbis.org ber; (seated) Betsy Trippe-DeVecchi, ORBIS founding board member; Dr. Francis A. L’Esperance, Jr., ORBIS board mem-
• Noelle Whitestone, ORBIS MD-10 project coordinator, noelle.whitestone@orbis.org ber; Mohan Thazhathu, ORBIS chief operating officer. Performance
Ceiling 42,000 ft at a
speed of 0.88 mach