Eye in the sky: Omega and Orbis touch down in London
Omega is not short of starry friends but its association with the sky borne Orbis initiative is lesser known. This year, the Swiss watch marque celebrates a six-year partnership with the global charity that treats avoidable blindness in hard-to-access territories. And, as it’s 35 years since Orbis first launched its Flying Eye Hospital, a serious upgrade was due. Cue this new MD-10 aircraft, with modular interiors. When it made a rare touchdown in London last month, Omega invited us on board for a tour. Photography: Aylin Bayhan
Beyond the flight deck, the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital MD-10 is fitted with modular sections, including a 46-seat classroom, operating theatre, patient care and laser areas, and an observation room where visitors can watch live footage of operations
The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital is the world’s only onboard ophthalmic teaching hospital. Its new MD-10 aircraft is also equipped to transmit live surgeries around the world in 3D
The MD-10 aircraft houses a fully accredited eye hospital equipped with technology that can transmit live surgeries around the world in 3D. There is also a dedicated Pre and Post-Operative Care Room where patients are prepared for surgery and where they can recover afterwards
Tokyo agency LIFT Strategic Design designed the MD-10’s non-hospital areas. It also created the Flying Eye’s blue and white livery to convey ’an inviting and professional’ message that fully reflected Orbis’s role. The colour scheme is carried through to the interiors surfaces and signage systems
The Orbis aircraft is a teaching hospital and spaces are compact, so function and workflow take precedence over everything in design terms. The new MC-10 started duty last September. This year, it is due to touch down in regions across China and Indonesia
The MC-10 Flying Eye is also a powerful PR tool. From local governments to international organizations and the general public, the arrival of the Orbis aircraft in cities and remote areas across the globe raises significant interest
The new MD-10 features significant upgrades to the DC-10 that had previously been in operation. It houses 12 dedicated medicare areas and doubles up as a teaching platform for eyecare professionals