In a row for northern residents • As part of the pilot, medical equipment will be supplied to Ziv Medical Center from the air • Passing corona tests using this method will shorten processes and prevent infections
Ziv Medical Center announced today (Sunday) that it will operate skimmers that will move medical equipment, drugs and blood and corona tests to and from it.
This is a pilot carried out as part of the Naama project (urban mobility in the airspace) of the Ministry of Transportation through Ayalon Highways and in cooperation with the Civil Aviation Authority, Director of Fuel Substitutes and Smart Transportation in the Prime Minister's Office
Photo: Ofer Freiman
The pilot was launched this week in a series of attempts to fly from Ziv's renewed landing pad to a number of destinations around the medical center.
The flight range will be limited in the first phase.
The gliders in question, which can carry a weight of up to five kilograms, will be flown using GPS, which will guide them to land the shipments at the exact location.
As part of the pilot, more than 100 sorties will be made to various destinations in the next ten days.
In addition, the possibility of cooperation with the IDF is being considered, during which sorties of medical equipment, medicines and tests will be carried out to the nearby Philo base and the Northern Command.
"A significant step in the effort to save lives"
The idea of using skimmers was conceived by the director of the medical center, Prof. Salman Zarqa, who emphasized the fact that Ziv Hospital is a peripheral and significantly far from the center of the country.
Also, according to Prof. Zarka, conveying corona tests using skimmers will expose fewer crew members to unnecessary infections and prevent infections.
In addition, air transport will provide a solution for the IDF, especially in times of war. In the second phase, larger skimmers will be activated, which are expected to transport blood doses and life-saving drugs over a wider range.
Prof. Zarqa: "During routine and emergency times, a continuous supply of medicines and equipment is required for the hospitals and the various essential facilities. The use of aircraft allows Ziv Medical Center to supply fast and efficient equipment, especially in emergencies, On their way to the northern borders.
"This is definitely a very important line for the residents of the north and especially for us as a northern medical center, which is almost isolated," he said.
"Using the aircraft for fast transportation will help the efficiency of the interface between Ziv and the army in times of emergency and war.
"I am confident that this is the way to connect the periphery to the center and provide us and the entire north with a significant and groundbreaking tool for our ability to function at all times. This excellent venture will contribute to the health of the residents of the north."
Itamar Ben Meir, CEO of Netivei Ayalon, said: "This is another phase in the important and innovative project to transport shipments by skimmer for health and commercial needs, which is becoming even more significant these days when the State of Israel is dealing with the corona plague.
It is now of great importance to be able to fly shipments quickly and efficiently, and especially to be able to minimize as much human contact as possible in passing tests.
"It is also a significant technological-transportation step in the effort to save lives, as moving tests and drugs using skimmers will reduce the time of arrival, which is critically important in saving lives."