United Airlines is the Founding Airline Sponsor of ORBIS, having donated the first ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital, a DC-8, which was launched in 1982. Until 2001, when it retired its fleet of DC-10 aircraft, United held the lead role in maintaining the current ORBIS  Flying Eye Hospital — with United employees treating the plane as though it was part of their own fleet. 

United's support of ORBIS continues in a variety of ways, such as providing volunteer pilots and an annual travel credit. Over the years, more than 300 United pilots and maintenance crew members have donated their time and expertise to ORBIS.

Summary

Since its initial support in 1982, United has been responsible for:

• The donation of a DC-8 for ORBIS’s first Flying Eye Hospital.
  
  
• An annual travel allowance to transport volunteer faculty and other personnel to ORBIS destinations.
  
  
• ORBIS membership in the United Charity Miles Program, enabling the donation of United as well as Star Alliance member miles to ORBIS. (Call 1.800.421.4655 in the United States to donate miles. Call 01.605.399.2411 if calling from outside the United States.)
  
  
• Encouragement of current and retired United pilots to volunteer for ORBIS programs.
  
  
• Provision of a full-time aircraft maintenance technician, who traveled with the Flying Eye Hospital through 2001.
  
  
• Training of ORBIS pilots and flight crews from 1981 through 2001.
  
  
• Donation of the annual safety B-check for the  Flying Eye  Hospital through 2000.
  
  
• Past provision of jet fuel at cost whenever the Flying Eye Hospital was in the United States.