Thai Army Deploys Aircraft to Help Transport COVID-19 Patients for Treatment in Provinces

[Jonathan Fairfield]

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Royal Thai Army has deployed its aircraft to help transport COVID-19 patients for treatment in the provinces, due to a shortage of beds in Greater Bangkok.

 

Army deputy spokeswoman Col Sirichan Ngathong said Army Chief Gen Narongpan Jitkaewtae ordered the maximized use of army resources, including the modification of army planes, during the recent surge in COVID-19 infections, with operations conducted by the army’s mobilization center, regional army and the army medical department.

 

She said the modified planes are suitable for patient transport and disease control. Security, air ventilation and filtration systems and security cameras, with communication devices, were installed onboard the planes, while healthcare officers will constantly monitor the patients.

 

Col Sirichan added that army medics also participated in a training exercise to cover all processes, from boarding the patients to delivering supplies. People can contact the army COVID-19 call center at 02-270-5685-9 to request air transport.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-07-24

 

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[internationalism]

they are using C-295 transport aircraft, able to carry heavy load, but only up to 71 passengers.

There are thousands of grounded passenger planes, without any need for modification.

Flying large plane, like this, costs $10k/h in fuel alone.

For that hundreds of thousands baht for each return flight, they  can rent 100's sleeper buses - which are also grounded. And they can transport thousands patients from one hospital to another one, without need for shuttle buses and large personel at each stage.

Those buses are run on NGV - absolutely environmentally friendly.

 

If it's purely for training purpose, let it say in the first sentence.

 

(I do smell somewhere here burning opportunity for a large scale corruption - starting from those security cameras, as those patients were criminals)

Edited July 24, 2021 by internationalism

[Doctor Tom]

I'd rather risk the covid illness than fly in a Thai military aircraft.  

[TooBigToFit]

15 hours ago, internationalism said:

they are using C-295 transport aircraft, able to carry heavy load, but only up to 71 passengers.

There are thousands of grounded passenger planes, without any need for modification.

Flying large plane, like this, costs $10k/h in fuel alone.

For that hundreds of thousands baht for each return flight, they  can rent 100's sleeper buses - which are also grounded. And they can transport thousands patients from one hospital to another one, without need for shuttle buses and large personel at each stage.

Those buses are run on NGV - absolutely environmentally friendly.

 

If it's purely for training purpose, let it say in the first sentence.

 

(I do smell somewhere here burning opportunity for a large scale corruption - starting from those security cameras, as those patients were criminals)

I totally agree. I'd also bet that those who get on the planes are connected to the government or military in some way or someone of status. The regular commuter planes that the hiso jump on also seem to be not flying.

 

The wealthier Thais have condos and other homes in plenty of other locations around Thailand. They can drive but if they know a general why not catch a ride to the mountains of MaeHongSong or and the islands down South. Am I reaching too far with this?

[brommers]

Nothing more than a weak PR stunt to try to put the junta in a better light. Extrapolate the number of flights over the next weeks and they can carry in infinitesimal proprtion of  the infected. Yes the Bangkok hospitals are overwhelmed but only because of the junta incompetence and now they try to decant the problem to the provinces where things will rapidly be out of control because resiurces are so scant. 

[soalbundy]

Just spreading the love.

[tifino]

transported at a safe social distance... 

 

 

[Sandy Bottom]

So, if they were to adopt a slogan, it might be Fly Thai Army...Bringing Peace & Covid to all? 

[Captor]

On 7/24/2021 at 2:33 PM, internationalism said:

they are using C-295 transport aircraft, able to carry heavy load, but only up to 71 passengers.

There are thousands of grounded passenger planes, without any need for modification.

Flying large plane, like this, costs $10k/h in fuel alone.

For that hundreds of thousands baht for each return flight, they  can rent 100's sleeper buses - which are also grounded. And they can transport thousands patients from one hospital to another one, without need for shuttle buses and large personel at each stage.

Those buses are run on NGV - absolutely environmentally friendly.

 

If it's purely for training purpose, let it say in the first sentence.

 

(I do smell somewhere here burning opportunity for a large scale corruption - starting from those security cameras, as those patients were criminals)

The government is trying to gain back the lost face about the vaccine debacle.

Edited July 25, 2021 by Captor

[mok199]

Another photo opp ,what cival servants do best " grandstand"