Indian Air Force’s ARPIT to the Rescue

The system has been developed as a lightweight isolation system made from aviation certified material and has a transparent and durable cast Perspex for enhanced patient visibility which is larger, higher and wider than the existing models.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has inducted seven newly designed, developed and manufactured Airborne Rescue Pod for Isolated Transportation (ARPIT), for evacuation of critical patients with infectious diseases including Covid19 from high altitude, isolated and remote areas.

The press note sent out by Press Information Bureau’s Defence Wing stated, “Requirement of an air evacuation system with facility to prevent spread of infectious aerosol from a Covid19 patient during air travel was felt by IAF when Covid19 was declared as a pandemic. The first prototype was developed at 3 BRD AF and has undergone various modifications. Supporting the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ call by Prime Minister, only indigenous materials have been used to fabricate this pod. This indigenously designed system has been developed at a cost of Rs 60,000, which is very less as compared to the imported systems costing up to Rs 60,00,000.”




The isolation system caters for suitable number of air exchanges, integration of medical monitoring instruments, and ventilation to an intubated patient. In addition, it generates high,             constant negative pressure in the isolation chamber for prevention of infection risk to aircrew, ground crew and healthcare workers involved in air transportation.

The ARPIT utilises High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) H-13 class filters and supports invasive ventilation using Transport Ventilator. The design integrates life support and monitoring instruments (defibrillator with multipara monitor, pulse oximeter, Infusion pumps etc), long arm gloves for use by health care professionals and power pack with high endurance. Design requirements have been evolved and are based on the guidelines issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and Centre for Disease Control (CDC), USA.