China unveils air ambulance variant of C909 jetliner

Commercial Aircraft Corp of China has developed a medical variant of its C909 passenger jetliner, aiming to bolster the nation's air medical services.

The C909 air ambulance features a modular cabin design, enabling customized layouts based on patient needs and mission requirements. It can be used for both emergency first-aid missions and patient transport, said Chen Yong, chief designer of the C909 family.

A typical medical configuration includes three functional sections: a medical expert zone, a support crew zone and an intensive care unit zone. The expert area is fitted with height-adjustable and foldable tables for medical specialists to operate computers and other equipment. The ICU zone accommodates two critical-care stretchers, each capable of being equipped with devices such as defibrillator monitors, ventilators, infusion pumps and suction units, depending on the patient's condition.

Seats in both the expert and support zones can be converted into six sets of double-tiered lightweight stretchers to handle increased capacity.

The aircraft also includes an electrically powered lift system at the rear door, allowing for efficient loading and unloading of patients in a lying position, Chen said.

Formerly known as the ARJ21, the C909 regional jetliner entered the market in November 2015 and made its first commercial flight in June 2016.

To date, 166 C909 aircraft have been delivered to 13 customers in China and abroad. They operate on 721 routes and have carried more than 25 million passengers.

Internationally, C909 aircraft have been delivered to carriers in Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam, serving routes throughout Southeast Asia.