China’s aviation medical services have reached a new milestone with the approval of the country’s first licensed airplane hospital, a development expected to expand healthcare access to remote and underserved regions.
The Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai received an official medical institution practice license for the airplane hospital, marking the first time an aircraft has been authorized to operate as a formal medical facility in China.
The Shanghai Municipal Health Commission granted the pilot license for the facility, which was converted from a C909 short- to medium-range turbofan regional aircraft developed domestically. Designed to deliver facial feature health services, the airplane hospital is equipped to perform surgeries and offer long-distance diagnosis and treatment. High-speed 5G technology enables experts based in Shanghai to connect with patients in distant regions, significantly improving the reach of high-quality medical care.
Following the license approval, the hospital team conducted a new series of drills, including charitable surgical operations aboard the aircraft. Patients from remote areas such as Xinjiang’s Ili region and Guizhou have received follow-up care and other medical services through the initiative.
To support safe and effective clinical operations in the airborne environment, the hospital developed a comprehensive safety control system tailored to aviation conditions. In partnership with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, it implemented a Class I clean surgery cabin that meets high laminar-flow purification standards, creating an environment suitable for delicate ophthalmic procedures.
The upgraded airplane hospital features a modular, rapidly deployable design that integrates a mobile clinic, examination area, training space, pre-operative preparation zone and surgical area. All sections are equipped with domestically produced precision medical devices. A set of management protocols covering personnel, equipment, procedures, infection control, emergency responses and environmental protection has also been established for cabin-based outpatient services, examinations, surgeries and support functions.
Since its inaugural flight to Shihezi in Xinjiang in September 2025, the C909 airplane hospital has expanded its capabilities from basic diagnostics to full surgical services. The integration of a high-standard operating room on an aircraft broadens the scope of specialized medical services and lays the groundwork for more precise ophthalmic care in mobile settings.
Looking forward, the airplane hospital is expected to continue reducing geographic barriers to healthcare by bringing medical services directly to patients in remote regions. Plans for 2026 include extending its service radius to medically underserved areas in Belt and Road partner countries to support charitable missions and contribute to broader public health goals.
