Etihad Airways to install in-flight health monitoring system

Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has decided to install on its long-haul flights a new, state-of-the-art technology which can monitor the condition of passengers who shows signs of sickness that need immediate medical attention.

The new technology, named the Tempus IC system, lets the cabin crew gather quickly vital information about the health of a passenger such as electrocardiogram and blood pressure. Photo imagery also can be taken using the Tempus IC system.

Captain Richard Hill, chief operations officer of Etihad Airways, said in a statement that the information gathered by the Tempus IC system is then transmitted to a global team of experts who are specialists in in-flight medical contingencies. The crew will take a decision, in accordance with the advice of the team of experts, on what to do next for the sick passenger and the flight itself – which will ensure that the sick passenger will get the required medical treatment when the aircraft lands at its scheduled destination, or whether there is a need for a diversion of the flight.

Etihad Airways will initially set up the Tempus IC system in its fleet of Boeing 777 and Airbus A340 aircraft, and later in the rest of the planes flying on long-haul routes.

Richard Hill said that the welfare and safety of the passengers is of utmost importance to Etihad Airways and that the Tempus IC system will ensure that medical emergencies are evaluated properly and quickly.

The device has been designed and made by RDT, based in the United Kingdom.

According to Grahame Fever, sales director (commercial aviation) of RDT, the Tempus IC technology is bound to improve a passenger’s chances of receiving the suitable medical assistance in time.