Participants: Narrator: Chet Damron
Series Code: OTG
Program Code: OTG000043A
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00:01 Narrator: Scattered across the globe Adventist World Aviation
00:04 has mission outposts situated in extremely remote areas that were 00:09 established to help minister to local indigenous people. 00:13 Most of these locations are so difficult to reach that aviation 00:16 is the primary means to reach them. Using aircraft, Adventist 00:21 World Aviation is able to deliver the gospel message 00:25 as well as providing lifesaving med-evac flights to thousands 00:30 by using the tool of aviation. 00:34 Providing quick and reliable transportation to many parts 00:37 of the earth, that are almost impossible to reach 00:40 is the mission of AWA. 01:27 Narrator: Adventist World Aviation has a mission outpost 01:29 situated in north eastern Nicaragua, 01:31 in a small village named Tronquera. 01:34 Here, the Hanley missionary family works endlessly 01:37 to serve the Miskito people. 01:40 The Hanley's have lived in Nicaragua for over 10 years now 01:43 and have established a good relationship 01:46 with the people here. 01:48 Clint is a pilot and offers med-evac flights 01:51 to all the neighboring villages, that need to get patients 01:55 to a higher level of medical care. 01:57 There are no safe road systems from the thick jungles 02:02 to Puerto Cabezas, which is the closest hospital equipped 02:06 to handle critical injuries. 02:09 Clint: I'm Clint Hanley and I live in Northeast Nicaragua, 02:13 in the upper corner along the border of the Rio Cocoa 02:17 with the border of Honduras. 02:20 And I live here with my family, 2 children and my wife, 02:24 who is a nurse and we fly this airplane, a Cessna 172, 02:29 for medical work, all around this region, 02:34 covering about 150 miles in all directions. 02:38 We devote a lot of our attention and time to humanitarian aid. 02:43 The right hand arm of the gospel is being able to 02:45 help people medically. 02:47 And being able to offer them this help, and being able to 02:51 give them the hope that they can have a better medical care 02:58 by transporting them. 02:59 Narrator: This outpost offers a valuable humanitarian services 03:02 free of charge to the Miskito people. 03:06 Without these quick med-evac flights, 03:09 the alternative would be a tortuous journey, 03:12 that could last serval days. 03:15 For critical patients, a short flight to expedite medical care 03:20 could mean the difference between life and death for many. 03:24 Clint: Since we started flying 7 years ago, I have flown 530 03:28 patients from remote communities or from hospital to hospital and 03:33 approximately 50-80% of those would have, the doctors say 03:38 would have died for sure, had they not had transport. 03:41 The rest of them needed transport, because they were 03:45 in great pain, because they had broken femurs, 03:47 or something like that. 03:49 That if they would have transported by road, it would 03:51 have been a lot worse for them but they probably 03:53 wouldn't have died. 03:54 So, it's been a big help to the people and we're happy 03:57 to be a small part of it. 03:59 Narrator: This project works closely with the established 04:01 medical care providers and provides logistical support 04:05 to help transport people needing immediate care. 04:09 Marilyn: The majority of the transports for the airplane 04:13 come through an emergency call from the director 04:17 of the hospital. 04:19 We work very closely with the government hospital and the care 04:22 that they provide to the people. From there, the doctors and the 04:27 nurses will address that need to the director and the director 04:30 is the one, who makes the final call, that a patient should be 04:33 transported via ambulance or by our airplane. 04:37 If it's to be by airplane, then she will call Clint 04:40 and they will make arrangements for a time of pick up. 04:44 Then Clint flies the airplane out and meets them on the runway 05:23 Narrator The Hanley family never know what their day entails. 05:27 At any moment, Clint could get a call to transport a patient. 05:31 They must always be ready to jump into action. 05:34 This morning, Clint does get a phone call to transport 05:38 a 41 year old man from a mining town of Bonanza. 05:43 He immediately prepares the plane to retrieve the patient. 05:48 Before takeoff Clint does a preflight inspection 05:51 to make sure the plane is in optimal condition to fly. 05:56 Safety is the highest priority, especially when flying over 06:01 uninhabited jungles. 06:04 As an additional safety precaution, satellite locators 06:08 are on all AWA aircraft and are trackable from any computer. 06:16 Clint: This is our satellite tracker. 06:18 It sends up a wave point every ten minutes, wherever we fly. 06:24 Narrator: Clint taxies the aircraft to the runway. 06:27 Before takeoff, he checks his electronic checklist 06:31 one last time. 06:32 Clint pulls back on the plane's yoke and races down 06:36 the runway to take off into the early morning sky. 06:40 Leaving the mission and his family behind. 06:43 He pushes the aircraft higher and higher into the sky. 06:48 Turning the plane southwest, he orients it to fly to Bonanza. 06:53 Clint is all alone when he flies in the rural part of Nicaragua. 06:58 There is no air traffic control, or flight following in this area 07:02 so he must pay extremely close attention 07:06 to his navigational systems. 07:09 Flying without knowing your exact location, could be fatal 07:13 when flying over thick jungle, with no place to make 07:17 an emergency landing. 07:19 So for this reason, Clint always has backup systems in place 07:24 should one of his navigation, or communication systems fail. 07:30 Clint: It's very interesting to fly in this type of environment. 07:32 I get in an airplane and I have you know all the navigation. 07:35 I have radios, that I can talk all the way to America with. 07:38 I have navigation, that tells me exactly where I am 07:43 and what's going on and then I land on a runway and I shutdown 07:47 the airplane and I step out of it and I'm back in what we 07:50 would consider before World War I in the states, early 1900's. 07:54 There's no cell service. There's no computers. 07:56 There's no electricity. There's no nothing on a lot of 07:59 these runways I fly to. 08:01 Narrator: Another challenge in flying in Nicaragua is the lack 08:03 of information available to properly plan a flight. 08:08 Before making any flight, pilots always check the weather, 08:11 that they may encounter during their flight, 08:14 as well as at their final destination. 08:18 However, this is not available here in the rural jungle. 08:23 Most of the airstrips in this area are so remote and rural, 08:27 that they have no means to report any weather conditions. 08:31 Clint often makes critical judgement calls based on very 08:36 limited weather information. 08:40 Another challenging element, when flying over the jungle, 08:44 is the lack of places to make emergency landings 08:47 should bad weather arise. 08:49 So in this remote part of the world, the jungles are so thick 08:54 there is simply no place for an emergency landing. 09:57 Narrator: Despite all the unknowns, Clint flies forward 10:00 confidently knowing, that he is on God's mission. 10:03 He knows that God has called him to this work and he is assured 10:08 that God will protect him when making these mercy flights. 10:12 Clint continues his flight as he keeps a watchful eye on his 10:17 navigational gear. 10:19 Outside the plane's windows, the morning fog rolls in over 10:23 the jungle canopy tree tops. 10:26 The dense fog could be a huge problem in Bonanza since it sits 10:31 in a valley surrounded by hills. 10:35 The fog could block all visibility to the runway 10:38 and cause Clint to have to abort this mission flight. 10:43 But there is no way to predict, what the conditions will be 10:46 at the destination. 10:48 So for now there is nothing more that Clint to can do, but push 10:53 forward and trust, that God will clear the fog 10:56 so he can pick up his patient. 11:45 From the mission base the flight to Bonanza is only a 30 minute 11:49 flight which does not give much time for the sun to burn off 11:53 the morning fog from the jungle canopy. 11:57 When making a landing in the jungle, visibility is crucial. 12:01 The location of Bonanza's dirt airstrip makes clear skies 12:05 all the more vital. 12:20 Narrator: Bonanza is completely isolated with no roads or boats 12:24 available to transport the patient. 12:28 So this vital flight is the patient's only opportunity 12:31 to make it to Port, where he can receive the critical care 12:35 he desperately needs. 13:10 Narrator: As Clint nears the village, he is slightly 13:14 disappointed in the weather conditions. 13:17 Instead of dissipating, the fog in this area has thickened. 13:23 If it's no clear view of the runway, this could threaten 13:26 his ability to land in Bonanza. 13:29 The terrain in this region is full of hills with Bonanza 13:33 sitting in the valley making the landing on the runway 13:37 very tricky. 13:38 When you add in the element of thick fog, it all effects 13:42 Clint's landing procedures. 14:16 Narrator: The aircraft navigation shows, that 14:18 he is nearing the destination. 14:21 But the fog has covered the jungle and hidden any visual 14:25 confirmation of the runway. 14:26 Clint is in a steady decent, so he can get underneath the fog 14:32 and hopefully gain enough visibility to make his landing. 14:37 They are just a few short miles away now from their destination, 14:42 the critical part of the journey Thankfully God provides a way! 14:57 Narrator: Clint lowers the plane down into the thick fog. 15:00 He has just enough visibility to spot the runway. 15:04 Since there is no control tower, Clint must make sure 15:07 the air strip is clear and ready for him to land. 15:21 Narrator: As he drops the plane just under the layer of fog, 15:24 he spots the runway. 15:27 The patchy fog makes this landing really tricky, 15:31 but Clint is confident he can land safely. 15:35 He flies the plane above the dirt strip and does a pass low 15:40 to warn everybody to get off the runway. 15:43 Often cattle and cars are on the runway, which could make 15:48 for a disastrous accident. 15:50 Finally Clint is ready to make his final approach and he aligns 15:55 the aircraft with the runway. 15:57 The fog has risen just enough for him to slide down and see 16:02 his destination. 16:04 Skillfully, Clint descends and makes contact 16:06 with the clay runway. 16:09 Thank God, he has arrived safely and can transport this patient 16:14 to a place where he can receive the health care he needs! 16:21 As he taxies back up the runway, Clint sees a group 16:25 waiting for him. 16:26 The patient is near the runway, ready for the flight. 16:30 Clint parks the plane as the Miskito people 16:34 gather on the airstrip. 16:35 The local villagers know Clint and the great work he does 16:39 here in the area. 16:41 They're always happy to see him, whenever he makes a flight 16:44 to their village. 16:46 So without hesitation, the patient approaches the aircraft. 16:51 He seems to be stable somewhat. But he can walk to the plane. 16:58 His friends and a doctor help him into the plane. 17:01 The patient climbs inside the aircraft 17:05 eager to start his journey. 17:07 Everyone in this area is familiar with the Hanley family 17:10 and the ministry they do. 17:11 The airplane is a welcomed site here in Bonanza. 17:15 Spectators come out to show support 17:18 and wish their neighbor well. 17:20 Before the patient leaves, his friends come to the plane 17:24 encouraging him. 17:25 Making a journey like this can be a very scary time 17:29 for a patient. 17:31 Just before they begin the journey, Clint gets a bit of 17:34 information from the doctor concerning 17:36 the patient's condition. 17:38 Clint: It's something with the liver. 17:40 Liver failure it sounds like. So that would be with jaundice. 17:44 And this hospital is not equipped 17:46 to be able to handle that. 17:48 Narrator: After only landing here a few moments ago, 17:50 Clint readies the aircraft for the next leg of the journey. 17:54 With the patient and extra passenger safely onboard, 17:57 Clint climbs in the plane and begins his preflight with the 18:02 most important safety check, and that is prayer. 18:07 Clint: Our Father in Heaven, I pray that You would be with us. 18:09 Give the plane a safe flight and the angels to be with us. 18:12 And help the doctors in Puerto Cabezas to know how to help 18:14 the person that we're carrying. 18:16 In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 18:18 Ok preflight inspection is done. Fuel sum times three. 18:23 Vest is on. Chalks and tie downs are off. 18:27 Seat belts harnesses are adjusted and locked. 18:30 Breaks test and set. 18:32 Electrical switches are off. Off off, off. Exactly where I am. 18:38 If anything happens, it'll narrow down the search area. 18:46 It's very important to be safe. 18:51 Narrator: Clint taxis down the runway with his patient and 18:53 passenger on board, ready to make the hour journey 18:57 to Puerto Cabezas. 19:00 As Clint prepares the plane for the flight, he looks down 19:03 the runway and sees a break in the fog. 19:06 This is the perfect opportunity for takeoff. 19:09 He adds power and the plane rushes down the clay runway 19:13 and off into the sky. 19:16 The fog is still present, but it has dissipated enough 19:20 to allow Clint to see the hills and ridges, that surround 19:23 the valley's landing strip. 19:39 Narrator: The patient peers out the back window a sight 19:42 he is not accustomed to seeing. 19:45 Most Miskito people will never travel in an airplane. 19:49 Thankfully for this man and many others, this aviation 19:53 mission base provides them with the lifesaving med-evac flights 19:58 they may need for emergency medical attention. 20:02 Any mode of travel in the jungle terrain is so time consuming 20:06 and challenging. 20:08 Traveling through the thick jungles poses many dangers 20:12 for a healthy individual, let alone someone, who is very ill. 20:17 Making this journey by ground could take a patient over 20:21 48 hours, but with the aircraft, he will be in the hospital 20:27 within 3 hours of when Clint first received the call. 20:34 Clint: Before we came the people got to the hospital by boats, 20:37 by road, by truck. 20:38 To give you an example, to fly from here to San Carlos 20:42 is 35 minutes for me, to get them to the hospital 20:45 from the time I get the call, until they actually arrive 20:48 in hospital is approximately one and a half hours. 20:51 If they were to take a boat, there's no roads, so they would 20:55 have to take a boat, there's an average of one boat a day, 20:58 but sometimes there will be a day or two or three that go by 21:00 that there's no boats. 21:01 They're random. And the boats take 12 hours. 21:04 And usually they leave in the morning. 21:06 So if the accident happens later in the day, and they're having 21:09 to wait through the night 21:11 until the next morning and then hoping that they can find a boat 21:13 with room in it, then they ride that boat 12 hours 21:15 to get to the hospital. 21:16 That's fairly average for a lot of the patients, that need 21:19 to come to the hospital. 21:20 Narrator: The village of Bonanza is especially remote 21:23 and difficult to reach by road. 21:25 This mining town is accessible by road only part of the year. 22:07 Narrator: In spite of the poor weather earlier this morning, 22:09 today's hour long med-evac flight goes very smoothly. 22:14 The ill patient in the back marvels out the back window. 22:19 Although his body is weakened, he knows he will be 22:22 at the hospital very soon. 22:24 They are just moments away from their destination. 22:28 Signs of the city are visible from the air. 22:32 Finally, the paved runway comes into view. 22:36 So Clint calls into air traffic control for permission to land. 22:41 The airport workers here in Port are very familiar with Clint 22:45 and the Adventist World Aviation's mission project. 22:49 In fact, this mission base is the only project that provides 22:55 med-evac services for north-east Nicaragua. 22:59 Clint has governmental permission to do this work 23:02 and has established good relationships 23:05 with the government. 23:07 Clint: There's no commercial flights, there's 23:09 no other airplanes. Nobody flies to these airports. 23:11 The government allowed me to come, because of the work 23:14 we are doing. 23:16 The humanitarian aid to the Miskito people. 23:18 There is none other available in all Nicaragua doing this. 23:23 And so it's a vital piece of help that the government 23:28 and no other aid agency was able to offer to the people 23:31 to save lives in transport. 23:34 Narrator: Just a few hours, from when the doctors called Clint 23:38 to pick up this man, they have finally touched down 23:41 at the Puerto Cabezas airport. 23:44 The patient has fared well during transport, but is still 23:48 very eager to get to the hospital. 23:51 When they park the plane, an ambulance is awaiting them. 23:54 It is driven out to the aircraft to load the patient. 23:59 The ambulance personnel has brought a backboard 24:02 to transition this weak patient from the aircraft 24:06 to the ambulance. 24:07 They slide the man out of the plane and into the care 24:11 of the local hospital team. 24:12 The patient seems relieved to be one step closer to receiving 24:17 the medical care he needs. 24:20 Carefully, the transport team helps the patient 24:23 into the ambulance. 24:24 Clint passes on the paperwork and any information 24:28 the doctor from Bonanza gave him 24:31 Now it's time to start the last phase of this transport 24:35 by ground. 24:36 The ambulance turns on its siren and speeds away 24:40 from the airport. 24:41 Thankfully this commute is very short, under a 10 minute trip. 24:46 This city is very simple with road systems, 24:49 that often get congested. 24:52 Thankfully, the ambulance driver can navigate through the traffic 24:55 and arrives at the hospital rather quickly. 24:59 They waste no time in unloading the patient. 25:02 Clint had called ahead so there is a doctor and an open bed 25:07 waiting for the sick man. 25:25 As Clint begins his journey home he gets word from the hospital 25:29 that the patient he just delivered is suffering from 25:33 an amebic liver abscess caused by a parasite, that is spread 25:39 by contaminated food or water. 25:43 Without treatment, the abscess may rupture and spread into 25:48 other organs, leading to death. 25:51 People, who are treated have a very high chance 25:54 of a complete cure. 25:56 Some may only have minor complications. 25:59 Thankfully, the patient was delivered to the hospital 26:02 in time and is expected to make full recovery. 26:09 It's been a fulfilling day for Clint. 26:11 He was able to save a life through the gifts God gave him. 26:16 With this trip completed, it's time for him to return home 26:22 to be safely reunited with his family. 26:25 Soon Clint sees the familiar views of the mission base, 26:29 where he knows his family is eagerly awaiting his return. 26:33 Each flight Clint makes he knows he is taking a risk in flying 26:39 over such inhospitable jungle terrain. 26:44 He knows, that God is with him, protecting him and his family 26:50 and the work they do. 26:53 Landing the plane, Clint spots his children 26:56 anxiously awaiting him. 26:58 After he parks the plane, his family welcomes him 27:02 with hugs and kisses. 27:06 This work is invaluable and many lives are saved in Nicaragua 27:10 with the gift of aviation. 27:13 Mission work throughout the world still greatly needs 27:16 aircraft to continue to carry the love of Jesus 27:19 to remote areas around the globe 27:24 Won't you do your best today, 27:29 to keep Adventist World Aviation flying. 27:36 Clint: The Miskito people are extremely thankful, 27:38 that we are here. 27:39 They are very - very happy with the work that we do 27:41 and they are very thankful, that we are able to help them 27:46 when they need it. 27:47 They're very - very thankful and grateful. 27:49 And I do tell them that it's not anybody in Nicaragua 27:53 who is paying for it. 27:55 No government, no hospital is paying for this 27:58 it's the people in America, the fellow Christians, who are 28:01 sending money down to pay for the gasoline and help to 28:03 keep the airplane flying that's helping them. 28:06 There's very few lines of work, that you can walk down the 28:09 street and you can look at the people in your local little town 28:12 and know that several of them that you see right then, 28:15 are alive because of the work you did. 28:16 So it is very fulfilling, but at the same time, 28:19 the credit all goes to the tools that the Lord has given me. 28:21 I don't have any extra expertise, or anything 28:25 that anybody else doesn't have. 28:26 All I do is use the tools, that the Lord has given me. 28:29 And I am thankful, that He has blessed me with those, 28:31 and I am able to pass on as a channel to help the local people 28:36 what He's given me and what you guys send from the States 28:38 to be able to help them. 28:39 And I am the one who gets the benefit of seeing the smiles 28:41 on their faces and hearing the thank you from them. |
Revised 2017-05-17