A Y-9 medical service aircraft, attached to an aviation regiment affiliated to the Air Force of the People’s Liberation Army Western Theater Command, receives maintenance at an airfield. Photo: Screenshot from China Central Television

The first Y-9 medical service aircraft of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has completed several missions in plateau regions, including Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province and Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. 

This aircraft has offered medical assistance to critically wounded personnel by saving crucial time, Li Jiajun, a mechanic of the Y-9 attached to an aviation regiment affiliated with the Air Force of the PLA Western Theater Command, told China Central Television (CCTV) on Sunday.

Known as the "flying hospital", the Y-9 medical service aircraft was developed based on the Y-9 tactical transport aircraft and was modified to provide medical and emergency care and  perform minor surgeries in the air, according to CCTV's report.

The Y-9 medical service aircraft is equipped with a complete life support system and can swiftly transport critically wounded or ill personnel over long distances.

The cabin of the aircraft has one area for general medical care and an intensive care unit equipped with electrocardiogram monitors and respirators and with the capacity of providing blood transfusions in surgical operations, CCTV reported, noting that the aircraft can accommodate more than 30 patients at once.

Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times that this means the aircraft can not only serve as a fast ambulance, but is also a mobile hospital with an ICU.

The flying hospital variant of the Y-9 can rapidly take off and land in frontline airfields making its deployment very flexible, Song said.

During a transport flight, vibrations, noises and temperature changes could affect the conditions of the patients. For this reason, the Y-9 medical care aircraft avoids flying into turbulence and takes optimal routes to shorten flying time, Zhao Min, pilot of the Y-9, told CCTV.

With its advanced technology and complete medical equipment, the Y-9 medical service aircraft is faster and more capable than a helicopter ambulance, giving a significant boost to the PLA's medical support capability to carry out diverse military operations, CCTV said.

The original Y-9 aircraft, a medium-sized tactical transport airplane, has been modified into various versions, including early warning aircraft, surveillance aircraft and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, media reported.