How FedEx Powers the Flying Eye Hospital’s Life-Changing Missions
Behind the Curtain: FedEx’s Crucial Role in Keeping the Flying Eye Hospital Airborne
The Flying Eye Hospital is globally renowned for providing advanced eye care and medical training, but the work that powers these missions begins long before any patient steps aboard. Months of meticulous coordination, technical support, and teamwork go into preparing each Orbis journey—ensuring every takeoff is smooth and secure. Thanks to FedEx and other key collaborators, this behind-the-scenes effort keeps the aircraft ready for 2025 and the years beyond.
Ongoing Pilot Training Support
FedEx plays a pivotal role as Orbis’s certified Part 142 training provider, ensuring our volunteer pilots remain sharp and mission-ready.
Every April, Orbis pilots—many of whom are active or retired FedEx aviators—travel to the FedEx headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, to participate in an intensive training program. This includes time in the MD-10 simulator, classroom-based learning, mission planning for international operations, and hands-on emergency response drills, all designed to maintain the highest levels of proficiency.
Throughout the year, pilots continue training through structured simulator sessions lasting four hours, covering both Initial and Recurrent Proficiency Checks (IPC and PC), refresher scenarios, and “3 and 3s”—FAA-required landing simulations. Coordination between FedEx’s training team and the Orbis training office ensures these sessions are seamlessly scheduled, with appropriate instructors and evaluators assigned.
Many of these instructors—and all evaluators—are current FedEx pilots who fit Orbis training into their own busy flight schedules. This joint effort helps maintain exceptional standards of safety, skill, and readiness. We’re deeply grateful to FedEx for lending its expertise, equipment, and personnel to help our mission soar.
FedEx Support on the Ground in Clark, Philippines
The FedEx team at Clark International Airport (CRK) in the Philippines is instrumental in keeping the Flying Eye Hospital prepared for action. Their teamwork—spanning Maintenance, Ramp Operations, Customer Service, Customs, Security, and senior leadership—ensures day-to-day support during each stopover.
Their assistance includes transporting personnel, powering the aircraft with ground units, supplying maintenance equipment like stands and lift trucks, and even handling crew catering. FedEx also receives and clears all Orbis medical shipments through Clark’s freeport zone, helping to minimize operational costs. Recently, when Orbis staff were unavailable, FedEx even moved the aircraft to a different airport location on their own initiative.
FedEx employees in Clark feel like part of the Orbis family—welcoming each arrival with kindness, curiosity, and heartfelt enthusiasm. Their dedication is invaluable, and their role in expanding global access to vision care cannot be overstated.
Aircraft Maintenance and Preparations
Between missions, while the aircraft is stationed in Clark, Orbis’s maintenance team performs critical system checks—such as engine tests, tire pressure monitoring, filter replacements, and assessments of ground support tools. These routine tasks ensure the plane remains ready for deployment at any time.
Planning is already in progress for an A Check scheduled for summer 2025, to be executed by Orbis engineers with assistance from FedEx. Additionally, groundwork is being laid for a more extensive C Check in 2026, including identifying a suitable location and sourcing necessary parts. FedEx provides the majority of these parts and contributes significantly to the associated costs each year.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The Orbis team is actively preparing for the Flying Eye Hospital’s 2026 missions. In March 2025, members traveled to Peru for an initial site visit ahead of a planned three-week mission in April 2026. Further exploratory trips are scheduled for June, including visits to Macau and Vietnam to prepare for upcoming two- and three-week projects.
These visits are crucial for introducing the Flying Eye Hospital to local officials, evaluating airport and hospital facilities, and tailoring medical training programs to each region’s specific needs.
Medical Equipment Servicing
Beyond keeping the aircraft airworthy, significant effort goes into maintaining the hospital's cutting-edge ophthalmic equipment. As a flying medical training center, the plane houses sophisticated devices that require routine inspection and maintenance.
This work—carried out by Orbis’s biomedical engineering team, manufacturers, or certified service providers—ensures all tools meet safety and performance standards. It not only ensures compliance and reliability but also supports cost efficiency and, above all, patient safety.
A Collective Effort, Powered by FedEx
Operating a mobile eye hospital takes a collaborative, global effort. From pilots and technicians to logistics and maintenance teams, every individual plays a role in bringing world-class eye care and training to underserved communities. Among these vital contributors, FedEx stands out for keeping the Flying Eye Hospital flying—quite literally.
The Flying Eye Hospital is globally renowned for providing advanced eye care and medical training, but the work that powers these missions begins long before any patient steps aboard. Months of meticulous coordination, technical support, and teamwork go into preparing each Orbis journey—ensuring every takeoff is smooth and secure. Thanks to FedEx and other key collaborators, this behind-the-scenes effort keeps the aircraft ready for 2025 and the years beyond.
Ongoing Pilot Training Support
FedEx plays a pivotal role as Orbis’s certified Part 142 training provider, ensuring our volunteer pilots remain sharp and mission-ready.
Every April, Orbis pilots—many of whom are active or retired FedEx aviators—travel to the FedEx headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, to participate in an intensive training program. This includes time in the MD-10 simulator, classroom-based learning, mission planning for international operations, and hands-on emergency response drills, all designed to maintain the highest levels of proficiency.
Throughout the year, pilots continue training through structured simulator sessions lasting four hours, covering both Initial and Recurrent Proficiency Checks (IPC and PC), refresher scenarios, and “3 and 3s”—FAA-required landing simulations. Coordination between FedEx’s training team and the Orbis training office ensures these sessions are seamlessly scheduled, with appropriate instructors and evaluators assigned.
Many of these instructors—and all evaluators—are current FedEx pilots who fit Orbis training into their own busy flight schedules. This joint effort helps maintain exceptional standards of safety, skill, and readiness. We’re deeply grateful to FedEx for lending its expertise, equipment, and personnel to help our mission soar.
FedEx Support on the Ground in Clark, Philippines
The FedEx team at Clark International Airport (CRK) in the Philippines is instrumental in keeping the Flying Eye Hospital prepared for action. Their teamwork—spanning Maintenance, Ramp Operations, Customer Service, Customs, Security, and senior leadership—ensures day-to-day support during each stopover.
Their assistance includes transporting personnel, powering the aircraft with ground units, supplying maintenance equipment like stands and lift trucks, and even handling crew catering. FedEx also receives and clears all Orbis medical shipments through Clark’s freeport zone, helping to minimize operational costs. Recently, when Orbis staff were unavailable, FedEx even moved the aircraft to a different airport location on their own initiative.
FedEx employees in Clark feel like part of the Orbis family—welcoming each arrival with kindness, curiosity, and heartfelt enthusiasm. Their dedication is invaluable, and their role in expanding global access to vision care cannot be overstated.
Aircraft Maintenance and Preparations
Between missions, while the aircraft is stationed in Clark, Orbis’s maintenance team performs critical system checks—such as engine tests, tire pressure monitoring, filter replacements, and assessments of ground support tools. These routine tasks ensure the plane remains ready for deployment at any time.
Planning is already in progress for an A Check scheduled for summer 2025, to be executed by Orbis engineers with assistance from FedEx. Additionally, groundwork is being laid for a more extensive C Check in 2026, including identifying a suitable location and sourcing necessary parts. FedEx provides the majority of these parts and contributes significantly to the associated costs each year.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The Orbis team is actively preparing for the Flying Eye Hospital’s 2026 missions. In March 2025, members traveled to Peru for an initial site visit ahead of a planned three-week mission in April 2026. Further exploratory trips are scheduled for June, including visits to Macau and Vietnam to prepare for upcoming two- and three-week projects.
These visits are crucial for introducing the Flying Eye Hospital to local officials, evaluating airport and hospital facilities, and tailoring medical training programs to each region’s specific needs.
Medical Equipment Servicing
Beyond keeping the aircraft airworthy, significant effort goes into maintaining the hospital's cutting-edge ophthalmic equipment. As a flying medical training center, the plane houses sophisticated devices that require routine inspection and maintenance.
This work—carried out by Orbis’s biomedical engineering team, manufacturers, or certified service providers—ensures all tools meet safety and performance standards. It not only ensures compliance and reliability but also supports cost efficiency and, above all, patient safety.
A Collective Effort, Powered by FedEx
Operating a mobile eye hospital takes a collaborative, global effort. From pilots and technicians to logistics and maintenance teams, every individual plays a role in bringing world-class eye care and training to underserved communities. Among these vital contributors, FedEx stands out for keeping the Flying Eye Hospital flying—quite literally.
Stay tuned for more updates from our upcoming mission in Ghana, where FedEx proudly serves as the Title Sponsor.a
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