Becky’s May Newsletter is here. You can click here to view or download it. Praise the Lord for the way Becky has settled straight back into life in PNG, the way He brought everything together for her return and His conformation in many ways this is where He wants her to be serving. Please pray for Becky and her impacting ministry.
The last five weeks we have had all three of our Twin Otters in for scheduled maintenance. Starting off with a B check (every 250 flying hours) and then an A check (every 125 hours). For the last three weeks MFU has been in for a C check (every 500 flying hours), the biggest check we do on a Twin Otter. I am grateful as for all these checks I have been able to continue being part of the engine team.
1. Hot section inspection
For the A and C check I was teamed up to work with my friend Brad. The previous time I had worked with him was back in 2005 during my short term trip to PNG. So it has been good and a blessing to work with him again. For the C check we ended up working on the engine that had the most amount of work, which is good. Besides the standard inspections there is extra work at the C check, but we had a few extra things on top of that.
2. Accessory gearbox split
During a boroscope inspection, a suspect crack was found. So it was decided to split the hot section (rear of the engine – which is at the front) and do a hot section inspection (done every 1500 hours). This was not due yet, but will see the engine though with the rest of it’s engine life. As we had other big work to do, we removed the engine from the aircraft. Following the hot section inspection completed, nothing found and everything back together. The accessory gearbox was removed and split (something rarely done) to replace a spline that was worn beyond limits for the starter generator, which is a bit of work. Removing all the accessory’s off the engine and splinting the gearbox.
3. Reinstalling the engine with Brad & JK
Having the engine all back together, we were able to reinstall the engine last Tuesday. With the Airframe almost completed and the aircraft tow able. We did engine compressor wash’s and drying runs/leak checks Friday afternoon. So there has been good progress made on the C checkand some big jobs completed. Hopefully the return to service flight can be carried out next week. It has been good getting different ranges off work over the C check, as there were a few systems that I had hours outstanding that I required for my PT6 license. But now should have enough hours to apply for my license. The last five weeks have been busy, but good again to gain more experience and work on something that I really enjoy.
On the 30th of March, Bill a eight or nine year old boy was playing with friends in a remote community called Maramuni. Playing around his father who was chopping wood. This resulted in his mother yelling at the father to move them away. As his father yelled at them, they did not respond or move. The father was frustrated by this and violently chopped the tree to drive the axe into the wood, so he could chase the kids. As he did this the axe head flew off the handle and cleanly chopped off his son’s foot off.
1. Arriving in Mt Hagen
One of our Hagen Pilots, Mike Bottrell, had been training a fellow Pilot in the Madang area for a couple of days. He was about to return to Mt Hagen, when he received news of a possible medivac at Maramuni on the way to Mt Hagen. There were a few obstacles in place. The pilots based at Wewak were not able to do the medivac, as they were not checked out at that bush strip. The weather was getting bad. And Mike was almost out of flying hours for the month. But he was able to get approval from the chief pilot to fly the extra hours needed to carry out the medivac. He loaded up with enough fuel and load for Simbai. By the time Mike reached Simbai the medivac had been confirmed.
2. Bill, poor little guy
From Simbai Mike flew to Maramuni, arriving just before 1600 and in front of the bad weather. Seeing the young boy, they explained to Mike he “got his foot cut off”. Assuming they meant he had a cut on his foot, they then showed Mike his foot wrapped in a dirty rag. It had been over twenty four hour’s since the accident and had involved many hours of walking to get the boy to the airstrip. Bill was remarkable calm, as well during the flight to Mt Hagen. They arrived safely into Mt Hagen that afternoon. He was transferred to Mt Hagen General Hospital to get much needed medical attention. But sadly as it had been more than twenty four hours, there was no chance of his foot being reattached. To make things worse after his ordeal to get to the hospital. Doctors right around the country in PNG public hospitals had been on strike. Please pray for Bill and his recovery.
3. Off to Mt Hagen General Hospital
This is a classic example of what life can be like for people in remote communities in Papua New Guinea. Who without MAF would not be able to reach medical care being in a life threatening situation. It is also a common day in the life of a MAF Pilot flying in the land of the unexpected, where MAF is making a difference amongst the remote communities of PNG.
Photos by Lauryn Velvin
Photos of Becky's return to PNG and the few weeks that followed.
81 Photos
One blog post I have been meaning to do is about courting in PNG. I think people do not realise the difference there is and at times challenges courting in another culture. Here is a link to a post from Becky’s blog for some reading, 3rd culture courtship. Hopefully I’ll have one up in a few weeks.
1. Becky & I at May’s English lotu at Kudjip
On Saturday May 7th, MAF’s Ron Watts set an Australian record at Illawara’s Regional Airport, Wollongong NSW, in his classic Beechcraft 19A aircraft. The most number of take offs and landings done in one day by one pilot/aircraft combination. In doing so celebrating 60 years since MAF started operations in Papua New Guinea. But also to promote that somewhere in the world a MAF plane is taking off every six minutes.
1. Ron Watts with his classic Beechcraft 19A
Starting off at 7am in the morning, Ron was aiming to complete 100 flights over ten hours, one flight every six minutes. Finishing at 1700 in the afternoon, he had managed 102 complete flights! Through the event, it is expected to have raised close to $10,000 for MAF. It is still not too late to sponsor, you can do so by going to www.every6minutes.com Congratulations Ron!
Bible Faith Orphanage’s April newsletter came out over the weekend. Please find a copy here with some latest news from BFO.
Today is sixty years since the first flight by MAF in Papua New Guinea. The flight was by Harry Hartwig in an Auster Aerocar departing from Madang. For the month of May seventy five hours was flown, carrying thirty passengers and 15,000 lb of cargo.
I was asked to put together a video for the 60th celebrations which will be shown to the PNG government and to different bush communities. I didn’t have the selection of footage that I would of like to choose from. But it came together in the end and worked out okay. All the recent footage is amateur footage by myself or Ed Laninga. There is only a few clips from a previous MAF video. This is the final draft, hope you enjoy it.
It is also three years since I arrived in PNG on returning to serve with MAF. I am really grateful for the last three years of life and experiences God has given me. It is a privilege to serve the Lord with MAF in PNG. Praise the Lord for the way he has used MAF in Papua New Guinea the last sixty years. Happy 60th anniversary MAF PNG!
The last two month’s or so we have had our wet season. It is quite normal to have a storm or heavy rain in the late afternoon every day. With the rain fall it does affect several things and one of them being the roads. It can lead to roads being washed away, rot i bagarap (bad road). It does make driving more interesting and on the Highlands Highway you must be concentrating as the holes that were there the previous week have become worse or there are new holes. Parts of the Highway along mountain sides can be completely washed away.
1. Near the main market in Mt Hagen
As for an example in town, near the main market along a road we take everyday to the airport. The road has been washed away and has been getting worse over the wet season. It is actually worse and deeper than what it looks and has deteriorated more since I took the photo on the weekend, but still able to drive a van through. Over time your approach through changes as the road does.
2. Pothole Hotline 503-823-BUMP
Back in January when Becky and I were in Portland for a Trailblazer game. We saw this sign which made me laugh quite a bit. Mainly due to the contrast in road condition and of maintenance. Maybe you have had to live in PNG to find it funny. It would be an interesting concept to have in PNG. It does make me laugh that people in Australia can go four wheel driving in some places on 4WD trials, yet it is more easy going than some roads in PNG.
On the 6th of April Becky returned to PNG. It was exactly four months to the day that she had left PNG in December. She was able to pass through Sydney on her way back, having a forty eight hour layover.
1. Jet lag – Becky, Mum & Dad
She stayed with my parents and it was a good opportunity to meet and spend time with my family. They had dinner together one evening with my sister Katie and her fiancee Alex, plus my Nan and my cousin Kurt. Becky also got a personal tour around the city by my Mum and have dinner at Manly beach with Bay, Beck and Zach.
2. A new friend – Zach & Becky at Manly beach
On the Wednesday Becky made it all the way through from Sydney to Mt Hagen on three flights. She made it safely, but minus her two bags. I was able to take two days off work to spend time with Becky and help her sort some things out in town before she started work on the Monday.
3. Back in Mt Hagen
On the Thursday and Friday we were able to do errands and much needed shopping. Brad and Nikolai hosted her for two nights. On Friday we traveled out to Kudjip. Becky got a very warm welcome from people on station, especially her national friends and colleagues. Besides reuniting with many people, we were able to spend time talking a lot, which was good. Come Sunday afternoon I caught a PMV back into town.
4. Becky’s first patient at Kudjip Hospital – A little girl Brayden with a broken femur
Becky has had a good transition back into PNG and has been like returning home for her. I am really grateful for the way God has lead and worked things out the past few months. I am also grateful for the way our relationship was able to grow being long distance over a few months. It is a blessing to have Becky back in country.
