A Milestone Mission: Bridging Continents in the Skies

• The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital touched down in Kigali on July 18, 2025, marking the start of an unprecedented ophthalmic training initiative in Rwanda.Orbis
• The mission, running from July 21 to August 1, represented the 84th country visit by the aircraft since its formation in 1982.Orbisvisionmonday.com
• Undertaken in collaboration with the Rwanda Ministry of Health, Rwanda International Institute of Ophthalmology (RIIO), and Kibagabaga Hospital, the project aimed to strengthen local eye care capabilities.OrbisOptometry Timesvisionmonday.com

Training with Technology and Teamwork

• In week one, simulation-based training—funded by the Alcon Foundation—introduced local teams to techniques such as MSICS and phacoemulsification, using cutting-edge VR tools co-developed with FundamentalVR. These tools are being donated to RIIO for continued local use.Orbis+1visionmonday.comEyewire+
• Week two, supported by OMEGA, shifted focus to hands-on surgical practice, covering key subspecialties including cataract, strabismus, oculoplastics, and medical retina. Participants included not only surgeons, but also anesthesiologists, nurses, and biomedical engineers.OrbisOptometry Timesvisionmonday.comEyewire+
• The mission also featured a live demonstration of surgical techniques, with classroom-style viewing from the aircraft’s interior enhanced by streaming and two-way audio communication between surgeons and trainees. Angels in MedicineXinhua News

Spotlight on Dr. Samita Moolani: Surgeon, Mentor, Inspiration

For Dr. Moolani, this represented her third assignment with Orbis—and a unique milestone: her first time performing advanced surgery on the Flying Eye Hospital aircraft.

“As a surgeon, how many people can say they have operated on a plane? An invitation to participate in these projects is an absolute honour,” she reflected.

Throughout the mission, Dr. Moolani took the lead in teaching phacoemulsification cataract surgery aboard the plane’s state-of-the-art operating theatre. She also devoted several days to mentoring local surgeons at Kibagabaga Hospital, enabling Rwandan clinicians—many experiencing guided phacoemulsification for the first time—to build confidence and competence.

“In my regular practice, I focus on patients only, but on this project, teaching was as important as patient care. It was exciting and humbling to collaborate with an international team and work in such a unique environment, a fully-equipped hospital onboard a plane.”

She also expressed deep gratitude to her fellow volunteers:

“I’m deeply thankful to the Orbis team — the culture, positivity, and enthusiasm of every member were unmatched.”

A Legacy of Sight—and Future Vision

Rwanda, with just 30 ophthalmologists for over 13 million people, faces a critical shortage in eye care services. Cataracts remain a leading cause of avoidable vision impairment, and nearly a third of referred patients lack access to surgery. Xinhua NewsAssociation of OptometristsAngels in Medicine

This mission aimed not just to restore sight to dozens of patients, but to empower local practitioners with technology, techniques, and training that will endure long after the plane departs—advancing Rwanda’s eye care infrastructure and education.

Long-term partnerships, including AI-based diabetic retinopathy screening through Cybersight, underscore Orbis’s ongoing commitment to the region.OrbisOptometry Timesvisionmonday.comWikipedia

Looking Ahead

Dr. Moolani’s extraordinary contribution highlights the extraordinary power of global medical collaboration. Her work aboard the Flying Eye Hospital exemplifies what happens when expertise meets opportunity—elevating local practitioners and offering renewed vision to communities in need.

The post Indian Surgeon Brings Innovative Cataract Surgery Training to Rwanda’s Flying Eye Hospital appeared first on NRI News.

•  The pilot training facility at Amravati in Maharashtra will be operational in Q1 FY26
• Will have 31 single-engine and three twin-engine aircraft for training

GURUGRAM: Air India, India’s leading global airline, is setting up South Asia’s largest Flying Training Organisation (FTO) at Amravati in Maharashtra as part of an initiative by the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC). This FTO will service the ambitions of the airline as it moves ahead in its transformation journey and strengthen the available pilot training capacity in India.

The DGCA-licensed FTO at Amravati’s Belora airport will be operational by Q1 FY26 and will target to graduate 180 commercial pilots every year.

The Air India FTO, the first by any Indian airline in the country, will have 31 single-engine aircraft and 3 twin-engine aircraft for training.

Air India has been awarded a tender by the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) to establish and operate this DGCA-licensed FTO in Amravati for a period of 30 years.

Campbell Wilson, MD & CEO, of Air India, said: “The FTO at Amravati will be a significant step towards making Indian aviation more self-reliant and offering more opportunities to the youth in India to fulfill their ambitions of flying as pilots. The young pilots coming out of this FTO will fuel Air India’s ambition of becoming a world-class airline, as it moves ahead in its transformation journey.”

“The FTO will be operational by Q1 FY26 and offer aspiring pilots an opportunity to undergo training with world-class curricula at par with best-in-class global schools. We are delighted to be playing a part in building the aviation infrastructure India needs as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets and to support the government’s vision for an Atmanirbhar Bharat,” said Sunil Bhaskaran, Director, Aviation Academy, Air India.

“This collaborative initiative between MADC and Air India will not only boost the economy of Maharashtra by focusing on over 3,000 new employment opportunities within the aviation sector, but also create employment in multifarious allied activities in skilling, technical and small entrepreneurial ventures culminating in an impressive contribution of over Rs 1,000 crore to the state’s GDP over the next decade. The establishment of South Asia’s largest FTO will certainly encourage students in Maharashtra to pursue careers in aviation which would further instill a deep sense of inspiration and pride for the state of Maharashtra and the Indian citizenry,” said Swati Pandey, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Maharashtra Airport Development Company.

At the FTO in Amravati, Air India will develop a state-of-the-art training institute over 10 acres, with digitally enabled classrooms, hostels at par with global academies, a digitized operations center, and its own maintenance facility to elevate operational efficiency. The FTO is curated to deliver the highest safety standards and best-in-class training.

As part of its commitment to invest in aviation training, Air India earlier this year announced its new Training Academy, spread over 600,000 sq ft, the largest in South Asia, in Gurugram. This new FTO in Amravati will complement Air India’s commitment to power India’s aviation ecosystem in the coming years.

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