Friday, 5 May 2017
Another catchup
So maybe getting two weeks behind on the blog wasn't so bad. This time it's been nearly twice that!
A quick summary of the last four weeks: four flights to South Sudan, one with an overnight in Tonj; four Karamoja shuttles; three charters within Uganda; one flight to Bunia in the DRC; one flight to Nairobi and a 6 monthly Base Check.
Good news on the licence front, I now have my Ugandan pilot licence so I can fly the MAF Uganda aircraft at last. One of the last remaining hurdles is an Instrument Rating check flight and I hope we can get that done next week...
Monday, 10 April 2017
Catch up
I've got a little behind on this blog so here's a catch up for the last two weeks. I've been up to South Sudan twice, once all the way to Yambio and once to Maridi, flown 2 Karamoja shuttles and one charter to Adjumani. Stops have been in Arua, Juba, Maridi, Yambio, Entebbe, Moroto, Kotido, Kalongo, Pakuba, Adjumani and Kaabong and passengers have been a mixture of missionaries and NGO workers.
Rainy season is definitely here and has also arrived in South Sudan, so that adds another dimension to our flying environment. Remember our colleagues up in South Sudan who not only have to deal with the thunderstorms themselves but also some very soft airstrips.
Rainy season is definitely here and has also arrived in South Sudan, so that adds another dimension to our flying environment. Remember our colleagues up in South Sudan who not only have to deal with the thunderstorms themselves but also some very soft airstrips.
Thursday, 23 March 2017
'Rescue' flight to Kaabong
Yesterday was going to be a quiet day catching up on office work, no flying because I had a head cold and wanted to give that time to clear before getting airborne again.
Plans changed just before lunch time when I received a call from Ops asking if I could do a 'rescue' flight to take an MAF engineer up to Kaabong, in the Karamoja area, where another of our Caravans had suffered a partial brake failure during landing. I changed into my uniform and headed down to the airfield at Kajjansi as soon as I could and prepared another aircraft for the flight.
It's an hour and a half flight up to Kaabong and we arrived mid-afternoon to find the pilot and 5 tired pax waiting for us at the airstrip with the aircraft. We transferred the passengers' bags to my aircraft and I took them on to their final destination, Kalongo, about half an hour away while Matt, the other pilot, and Geoff, the engineer, remained to sort out the brakes on the original aircraft.
Considering my five passengers were now about 4 hours late I wouldn't have been surprised if there were only a few people to welcome them in Kalongo, but there were hundreds of people at the airstrip and they were welcomed like celebrities! (see the video below)
Matt and Geoff were able to fix the brake problem and we all arrived back at Kajjansi at about 17:30 in the evening.
Plans changed just before lunch time when I received a call from Ops asking if I could do a 'rescue' flight to take an MAF engineer up to Kaabong, in the Karamoja area, where another of our Caravans had suffered a partial brake failure during landing. I changed into my uniform and headed down to the airfield at Kajjansi as soon as I could and prepared another aircraft for the flight.
It's an hour and a half flight up to Kaabong and we arrived mid-afternoon to find the pilot and 5 tired pax waiting for us at the airstrip with the aircraft. We transferred the passengers' bags to my aircraft and I took them on to their final destination, Kalongo, about half an hour away while Matt, the other pilot, and Geoff, the engineer, remained to sort out the brakes on the original aircraft.
Considering my five passengers were now about 4 hours late I wouldn't have been surprised if there were only a few people to welcome them in Kalongo, but there were hundreds of people at the airstrip and they were welcomed like celebrities! (see the video below)
Friday, 17 March 2017
Karamoja shuttle
MAF Uganda fly a shuttle service to the Karamoja region in north eastern Uganda every weekday. This week I flew the Karamoja shuttle on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday so I have had a good introduction to MAF Uganda flying :)
During the week I've landed at Moyo, Adjumani, Gulu (twice), Pader (twice), Kaabong, Kotido (three times), Amudat, Moroto (four times) and Soroti (twice). I've carried 55 pax but I won't try to name all the customers who have been served by the shuttle since it is a rather long list, including a variety of NGOs and Christian Missions.
During the week I've landed at Moyo, Adjumani, Gulu (twice), Pader (twice), Kaabong, Kotido (three times), Amudat, Moroto (four times) and Soroti (twice). I've carried 55 pax but I won't try to name all the customers who have been served by the shuttle since it is a rather long list, including a variety of NGOs and Christian Missions.
What a week!!
Last week I spent 6 days in South Sudan with a mission group called Every Village. A team of 8 people was visiting from the USA and I accompanied them as they spent time in 3 different locations to see the work being done and to encourage their colleagues who are based out in the field.
Our first night was spent in Malualkon in the far north west of the country, followed by 2 nights in Tonj and another 2 nights in Mvolo. For 3 nights we slept out under the stars (and a mozzie net of course!) and for the 2 nights in Tonj I had the luxury of a room in a small house.
Every Village have set up Christian radio stations in each of those locations and also drill boreholes to provide water to the surrounding communities. I had the privilege of seeing how the Gospel message, broadcast on the radio, is impacting the lives of so many in those communities, as well as the difference that access to fresh water is making for the people.
Something which was particularly exciting to be a part of was when the team visited a witch-doctor with whom the missionaries had been sharing the Gospel over a period of many months. The missionaries believed that the man was almost ready to make a commitment to Christ and turn his back on his witchcraft, and while we were there he did indeed take the bold step to confess Christ as his saviour! Not only did he say that he was ready to turn his back on his old ways, but there and then all his idols and charms were brought out and burned in a fire!
It would have been quite remarkable to see that happening once, but on this trip we saw it happen again with another witch-doctor just two days later!! Please pray for these two former witch-doctors in Tonj that they will grow in their new faith and draw many others to Christ through their witness.
Our first night was spent in Malualkon in the far north west of the country, followed by 2 nights in Tonj and another 2 nights in Mvolo. For 3 nights we slept out under the stars (and a mozzie net of course!) and for the 2 nights in Tonj I had the luxury of a room in a small house.
Every Village have set up Christian radio stations in each of those locations and also drill boreholes to provide water to the surrounding communities. I had the privilege of seeing how the Gospel message, broadcast on the radio, is impacting the lives of so many in those communities, as well as the difference that access to fresh water is making for the people.
Something which was particularly exciting to be a part of was when the team visited a witch-doctor with whom the missionaries had been sharing the Gospel over a period of many months. The missionaries believed that the man was almost ready to make a commitment to Christ and turn his back on his witchcraft, and while we were there he did indeed take the bold step to confess Christ as his saviour! Not only did he say that he was ready to turn his back on his old ways, but there and then all his idols and charms were brought out and burned in a fire!
It would have been quite remarkable to see that happening once, but on this trip we saw it happen again with another witch-doctor just two days later!! Please pray for these two former witch-doctors in Tonj that they will grow in their new faith and draw many others to Christ through their witness.
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