| AIRCRAFT NEEDS | DETAILS REGARDING AREA OF NEED |
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1) Replace current 2-seat plane with 4-seat aircraft (Example: Cessna 180, 182, or Maule Rocket) | Due to the rapidly expanding demand for medical and educational services in West Guyana, our small 2-seat Cessna 150/150 is now unable to meet the demand. This badly-needed 4-seat aircraft would greatly increase the efficiency of the program and allow for expansion of services into new areas currently requesting attention. |
| 2) Addition of second 4-seat aircraft for use in South Guyana | Numerous requests have been received for medical and educational attention from the vast, isolated Southern region of Guyana.
Attention to this vast territory is only possible by basing a second aircraft in the South. |
| 3) Addition of third 4-seat aircraft for use in Northeast Guyana | Requests for medical and educational attention from this region have been increasing. As in Western Guyana, dozens of isolated villages are needing special attention. Again, due to the large area of coverage, regular attention can become available only with a dedicated aircraft. |
| Note: Aircraft purchases or donations are coordinated through Adventist World Aviation. |
| AVIATION PERSONNEL | QUALIFICATIONS | RESPONSIBILITIES |
| 1) Mission Pilots | Comercial license / Instrument rating required. Experience 1200 hours. Medical/Health training encouraged. Aviation maintenance encouraged. | Besides flying aircraft, the pilot also acts as coordinator of medical flights, educational and constructions projects, and government agencies. |
| 2) Aircraft Mechanics | Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics or Aviation Maintenance Engineers (British). Inspection Authorization encouraged. | Responsible for progressive maintenance, inspections, maintenance records, and general maintenance needs. |
| Note: All positions are voluntary. Personal sustenance funds can be processed through the home church, or through Adventist World Aviation. |
NEED FOR A LARGER 4-SEATER AIRCRAFT
Original plans for the aviation program included the use of the smaller aircraft to open new areas of service. Six months into our flight program, our time estimate
for this initial stage of 6 to 12 months, appears to be accurate. What is currently needed to replace the smaller 2-seater Cessna is an aircraft with a 4-seat capacity
which will remain as the permanent aircraft of operation in the region. This medium-sized plane is an ideal compromise between carrying capacity and cost.
For only a slight 30-50% increase in operating cost, a 4-seat aircraft will be able to carry 3 times the passengers as the 2-seater. Since all medical services
offered are free, we are very careful to keep all operations as efficient as possible, stretching the most service for the least amount of cost. There are several
types that when prepared for bush operations would serve well. We are currently considering a Cessna 180 or 182, or perhaps a Maule Rocket. Other possibilities
also exist.
PLANS FOR EXPANSION
Two other areas of Guyana have already been targeted for additional aviation programs. The first will be the Southern half of Guyana, with a base near Lethem,
a city bordering Brazil. The second will provide services to the North-eastern region of Guyana, bordering Suriname. Even though requests for teachers and
medical assistance have been coming in for years, it has been a sad reality that there have been no resources or personnel to send them -- UNTIL NOW. With
the opening of the aviation program, opportunities to reach anywhere in Guyana have suddenly opened. We are praying that God will soon provide the second
and third aircraft needed to begin providing these remote locations with proper medical care, and education opportunities.
Requests for medical aviation programs have come in from neighboring countries of Suriname on the East and Venezuela on the West. Adventist World Aviation has already voted to move forward with a program in Venezuela as God provides the volunteer personnel and equipment. The Mission President in Suriname frequently reminds me of the need, and extends the invitation for us to visit and evaluate the situation. Please pray for these new opportunities. The fields are truly ready for the harvest.
WHAT ABOUT USING EVEN LARGER AIRCRAFT
Have larger 6-seat aircraft been ruled out? What about a twin-engine aircraft? These are some of the questions that have been asked. Our thoughts are as
follows. There are times when a larger aircraft would come in very handy, especially when transporting construction materials or with the arrival of a large number
of volunteers. As for twin-engine aircraft, most are not capable of landing in the small villages. However, there are several very important uses for twin-engine aircraft.
Since only twin-engine aircraft are allowed to fly at night, all emergency medical situations during the night currently requires a special charter flight out of
Georgetown -- a very expensive alternative. A second practical use for twin-engine aircraft is for international or overwater flights. Requests from neighboring
countries of Suriname and Venezuela for medical aviation programs, will soon require frequent international flights both for supervision and for the transportation
of ever-increasing numbers of medical, educational, construction volunteers. Our current need for larger aircraft is expected to increase steadily.