Evacuation:Pilots, crew undergo training in donning PPEs, COVID-19 control practices

Kochi, May 6 () Ahead of commencing theiroperations to airlift stranded Indians in foreigncountries, the pilots and cabin crew of the first batch of AirIndia Express evacuation flight on Wednesday got to know howto handle inflight operations at the time of the COVID-19pandemic.

Doctors and nurses of a government medicalcollege (GMC)hospital here, experts in handling COVID-19patients, imparted training to 12 airline staff including fourpilots, ahead of their departure from Kochi to participate inthe biggest evacuation operation of Indian history.

The pilots and cabin crew were provided trainingin all the steps on donning and doffing of Personal ProtectiveEquipment (PPE) suits, infection control practices to befollowed inflight and also the management of anticipatedhealth emergencies during the flight, the medical collegeauthorities said here.

A practical demonstration of both donning anddoffing of PPE suites according to the protocol was also givento the crew.

They were also provided with practice kits.

"The training given by GMC Ernakulam has helpedto build up the confidence level of the entire crewconsiderably and we are now fully confident to undertake therescue mission," said Captain Paartha Sarkar.

The expert panel was headed by medical collegeRMO Dr Ganesh Mohan, doctors Manoj Antony, Gokul Sanjeevan andinfection control staff nurse Vidhya.

Medical superintendent Dr Peter Vazhayil hasoffered further training sessions for air personnel, ifrequested by the Airline companies.

A Cochin International Airport spokesman saidthere will be only one Air India Express flight operating onMay 7 to airlift passengers stranded Keralites.

The flight carrying evacuated citizens from AbuDhabi will land at the Cochin International Airport Limited at9.40 pm on Thursday, he said.

The other (Doha-Kochi) flight, scheduled forThursday's operation, has been rescheduled to Saturday, headded. TGB BNWELCOME BNWELCOME