Indian Air Force develops 'Airborne Rescue Pod for Isolated Transportation'

Photo (Twitter/@PIB_India)

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force has designed, developed and inducted an Airborne Rescue Pod for Isolated Transportation (ARPIT) that will be utilised for the evacuation of critical patients with infectious diseases including COVID-19 from high altitude areas, isolated and remote places.

The requirement of an air evacuation system with a facility to prevent spread of infectious aerosol from a coronavirus patient during air travel was felt by IAF when COVID-19 was declared as a pandemic. 

The first prototype was developed at 3 BRD AF and has undergone various modifications. 

Only indigenous materials have been used to fabricate this pod, in view of the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” call by Prime Minister Modi. 

Supporting the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” call by Hon’ble PM, only indigenous materials have been used to fabricate this pod. This indigenously designed system has been developed at a cost of Rs60,000 only, which is very less as compared to the imported systems costing up to Rs 60 Lakh pic.twitter.com/qM27KyAWqI

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) June 8, 2020

It has been developed at a mere cost of Rs 60,000, compared to the imported systems costing up to Rs 60 lakh.

The system has been developed as a lightweight isolation system made from aviation certified material. It has a transparent and durable cast Perspex for enhanced patient visibility which is larger, higher, and wider than the existing models. 

The isolation system caters to a suitable number of air exchanges, integration of medical monitoring instruments, and ventilation to an intubated patient. 

In addition, it generates high constant negative pressure in the isolation chamber for the prevention of infection risk to aircrew, ground crew, and health care workers involved in air transportation. 

The ARPIT utilises High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) H-13 class filters and supports invasive ventilation using Transport Ventilator. 

The design integrates life support and monitoring instruments (defibrillator with multipara monitor, pulse oximeter, infusion pumps etc), long arm gloves for use by health care professionals and power pack with high endurance. 

Design requirements have been evolved and are based on the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH), and Centre for Disease Control (CDC), USA.  

The IAF is inducting a total of 7 ARPITs as of now.