Tag Archives: medevac

Feeling or Calling?

Medical evacuation flights really hurt during my first term. Once turned loose with an airplane in the jungle, I felt I had to be both counselor and pilot. During orientation phase I could busy myself preparing the airplane to receive the patient. The instructor pilot handled talking with the village, the family, and supervising gentle […]

Bus Crash in Lesotho

In December, a bus crashed while negotiating Lesotho’s treacherous mountain roads. 7P-CMH and two other MAF Cessna 206s answered the call to come to the remote community of Qacha’s Nek and transport the most critical patients to a better equipped facility.

Seven people were medevaced that day, most of whom suffered broken bones—five of the seven […]

Adrenaline High

In almost 70 years of service, MAF has gained a worldwide reputation as a First Responder.

The call came at a bad time. We’d loaded the airplane and buckled in three passengers. I was just climbing into the cockpit.

Pancho hurried up. “Capitán, emergency in Bufeo! Snake bite. Pregnant woman.”

I stopped mid-climb. “How long?”

“Two, maybe […]

Valentine’s Day in Indonesia

I live on a small island where there are no long-stemmed roses, none of my favorite dark chocolate, and no romantic Italian restaurants.

And this Valentine’s Day, my own Valentine wasn’t even here. He’s been shivering in America for some training. I’ve been sweating through another tropical February here in Indonesia.

Though we we’re apart this year, […]

A Strong Patient

The patient doesn’t make a sound as a nurse and I position her on the floor of a Cessna 206. I am amazed at her resolve not to demonstrate any pain—not even the slightest wince.

Her name is Maleboheng; she is 81 years of age and has a broken femur. Earlier in the day she was […]

Highest Honor

I loved flying Ecuadorian jungle kids. They reveled in life, not yet acquiring their elders’ stoicism. At the village airstrips, girls moved in tight, giggling knots. Boys ganged, separated, then ganged again at each new wonder. They spoke whisper soft, peering, pointing, touching tentatively, watching me for any sign. In the midst of adult conversations, […]