The first batch of the “King Air 350 C” of the medical evacuation planes arrived here from the United States on Monday. Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, ordered the purchase of five planes of the type so as to support the fleet of the medical evacuation planes. The plane is the first of its kind to fly in the Kingdom's airspace, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. Maj. Gen. Dr. Kitab Bin Eid Al-Otaibi, Director General of the Medical Services at the Armed Forces, said the Crown Prince's order signifies the due attention he gives to the medical services in the military and also the deep thought he gives for the development of the fleet to cope with the latest technological advancement. Maj. Gen. Engineer Muhammad Bin Abdul Rahman Hassoon, Director of the Air Medical Evacuation Administration, said the decision to purchase these planes came after a thorough study. The planes are distinguished for their high technological specifications and an ability for landing on dust runways besides suiting the Kingdom's climatic conditions. Al-Hassoon said since the launching of the air medical evacuation administration in early ‘80s it has been receiving unlimited support from the government. He said the fleet supports all branches of the armed forces in times of war and peace besides lifting sick and injured people to specialist hospitals in different parts of the Kingdom. He indicated that the fleet has so far lifted 30,000 people since its establishment in 1980 stressing that Saudis will fly and completely run these planes. __
