An Air Evacuation Pod (AEP) was indigenously designed and fabricated by Naval Aircraft Yard (Kochi) under Southern Naval Command (SNC) for safe air evacuation of COVID patients from remote areas such as ships and islands in a fully sealed patient transfer capsule eliminating the risk of cross-infection to pilots and evacuation team with no requirement of sanitation of aircraft post evacuation.

The evacuation pod which was designed under guidance of Principal Medical Officer of the naval air station at Kochi, INS Garuda in consultation with specialist from the naval hospital INHS Sanjivani and HQSNC, is made of Aluminum, Nitrile Rubber and Perspex.

The highlight of the pod is that it weighs only 32 kg and has incurred a manufacturing cost of ₹50000/- which is only 1% of cost of an imported equivalent item (Rs 59Lakhs).

Trials of patients inside AEP were undertaken on board Advance Light Helicopter (ALH) and Dornier aircraft of Indian Navy at SNC and successfully completed on 8th of this month.

12 AEPs are planned for distribution across Southern, Western, Eastern and Andaman and Nicobar Naval commands.

The successful induction of the AEP will vastly increase the Indian Navy's abilities in its relentless efforts towards aiding COVID prevention across the nation.

