Edhi Foundation to resume air ambulance service

KARACHI: Faisal Edhi, son of late humanitarian Abdul Sattar Edhi, says his foundation is all set to resume air ambulance service in Pakistan in order to help people in emergencies and catastrophes.

Faisal Edhi is the head of Pakistan’s largest welfare organization founded by his father single handedly. Abdul Sattar Edhi died in July last year.

He told The News the Edhi Foundation has six-seater Piper Seneca aircraft and plans to buy more.

He said the organization launched its air ambulance service in late 80s and shutdown after using it in various missions.

“Edhi Foundation has retained an aircraft for 23 years at the Karachi airport. The plane took part in various rescue missions including a train accident in Khanewal 15 years ago”.

He said the aircraft recently conducted a test flight that was not approved by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), expressing the hope that the foundation would get the approval within a couple of days.

“The services will be resumed soon. A huge amount has been spent on the aircraft’s repairing. We are working to build a team and a pilot has also been hired”

He said he had a dream of flying the aircraft to rescue people in emergencies or calamity hit areas.  “I am a trained pilot. I have completed 40 hours of flying with a trainer and two hours of solo  flight during my trainee program at a flying school in England back in 2001.”

 “I was not able to complete the course as Abdul Sattar Edhi was invited to the United Nations and wanted me to come back to Pakistan to represent me there. Later I couldn’t pursue my dream due to other commitments,” he said, vowing to complete his flying course either in Pakistan or abroad to pursue his dreams.

Talking about his future plans, Faisal Edhi said “We intends to buy a 14-seater aircraft to help stranded people in emergencies.