AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - April 2019 - 72

THE HAPPY FACE of an infant patient helps

explain why the staff and volunteers do
what they do (above). Pilot Gary Dyson's
guitar carries the signatures of many
patients and dignitaries who have visited
the airplane (left). On surgery days, he
strums away and sings to calm patients
waiting for their procedures. His theme
song: I Can See Clearly Now. The massive
cockpit view reminds that this is a jumbo
jet. Dyson (below left) and FedEx pilot
Eric Van Court volunteer for their chance
to pilot the Flying Eye Hospital to points
across the globe.

TOP: GEOFF OLIVER BUGBEE

72 | AOPA PILOT April 2019

The result is a stow-and-go hospital that
is disconnected from the airplane except
for a couple of easily managed electrical
circuits. Each major section of the hospital is built into a jumbo cargo container,
which can be removed-although not easily. Because it is now just cargo as far as the
FAA is concerned, there is no need for the
agency to approve every little change that
occurs to the hospital equipment.
Climbing the airstairs, you first walk into
the passenger compartment just behind the
cockpit. Behind the passenger compartment
begins a hallway along the left side of the fuselage. Doors from the A/V room, laser room,
operating suite, and sterilization center along
the right side open into the hallway. The hallway ends in the recovery room at the back.
None of the hospital space can be occupied in the air. A heavy bulkhead door just
behind the passenger compartment is
closed during flight.
We visited the MD-10 in early March
2018 just as it was finishing months of winter maintenance at AerSale at Phoenix
Goodyear Airport. With several major work
projects complete, Johnson and other paid
Orbis staff were finishing final checks, an
engine run, and loads of logbook entries.
Meanwhile, volunteer FedEx pilots Gary
Dyson, who is the Orbis chief pilot, and Eric
Van Court, technical pilot, showed up right
on schedule and began their own duties
of flight planning and preparing for their
morning flight to Palm Beach, Florida.
The airplane operates under Part 125
of the federal aviation regulations, which
is designed for large aircraft not used for
"common carriage." In addition to providing access to parts, shipping, and scores of
other resources, FedEx provides the recurrent training for the 19 volunteer pilots.
"For pilots, the aircraft provides a
unique experience," says Dyson. "With
this mission we see kids who can't see
on Monday and on Wednesday they can.
Wow! Where else can you do that?"
By late morning, with all the checks
done, the crew piles on board for the quick
trip to Florida.
I climb into one of the two jump seats
in the wide cockpit. Readying the old bird
for flight is more akin to launching an
ocean liner than an airplane. There are a
few last-minute delays and many system
checks after all of the work and downtime.

AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - April 2019

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