International SOS and Deer Jet jointly announced the formation of a
strategic partnership yesterday in Beijing for the launch of their
SOS Air Rescue project, which will be China's first dedicated
air-ambulance service.
Deer Jet, a subsidiary of Hainan Airlines Group in South China, has
dedicated a Hawker 800XP to International SOS as a flying hospital
to provide business travelers and tourists in China and other
Asia-Pacific countries and regions with aero-medical evacuation
services.
The service will be available 24 hours a day.
The flying range of the Hawker aircraft will enable SOS to easily
provide services as far afield as the Korean Peninsula, Japan,
Mongolia and Singapore.
John Williams, managing director of International SOS China, said
the increasing numbers of foreign business people and travelers
coming to China make it mandatory to provide them with
high-standard medical care.
"SOS air rescue services will make it possible for people to reach
centers of medical excellence or medical destinations of their
choice rapidly," he said.
Tu
Zhizheng, chairman of Deer Jet, said the project demonstrates the
rapid development of Chinese society.
"Through our cooperation, we are now able to provide both Chinese
citizens and foreigners with professional air rescue services. A
few years ago, this would have sounded like a fairy tale," Tu
said.
Tu
said the Hawker 800XP has been painted with the SOS logo, and is
stationed in Beijing for urgent rescue missions.
Charles Van Reeven, medical director of International SOS in China,
said the usual practice of the SOS Air Rescue service will proceed
as follows:
When SOS receives a call for assistance on its China 24-hour alarm
system for urgent medical assistance, SOS doctors will first
provide appropriate advice and arrange for immediate evacuation to
the nearest hospital for treatment.
(China
Daily July 11, 2002)