Medical Evacuation from a ranch?

Over the past two weeks, I have had the chance to accompany the other SAMAIR pilot on five flights. The last one was quite interesting as we received a call from the owner of a cattle ranch to come and pickup his elderly wife who had fallen and hurt her hip quite severely. The ranch was only 55 miles away from the SAMAIR airstrip, but the idea of riding for 3 hours on rough roads between the city and the ranch made flying the best transportation option. Like many of the ranches around Santa Cruz, this ranch has a 1,800 foot airstrip which made for easy transport between the house and the airplane.

While we were at the ranch, I took a few pictures of the ranch house architecture and a tree that had very large thorns growing on it. Both were strange sights for someone who is used to flying in the jungles of Peru.

The owners of the ranch are originally from England, 27 years ago they came for a short visit and never left! One of the ranch hands, along with his son, came to help load up the wheel chair and bags inside of the Cessna 206.

Thirty minutes after takeoff, we were back in Santa Cruz where the couple was whisked away to the hospital. I am thankful for the opportunity to use something I enjoy (flying), to serve people in such a tangible way.

Bolivia

Greetings from Bolivia! I have been in country for almost one week and am finally getting some things under control. My first taste of Bolivia was walking off the plane in Santa Cruz, my new home, and being greeted by winds of 40 miles per hour and a temperature of 50 degrees! Evidently a southern cold front, from Antarctica, had arrived just before me and brought with with rain, wind, and cold air. This phenomenon of a "sur" happens occasionally during the "winter" down here and lasts for about 3-4 days. Since I was hot and sticky at the hanger today, I officially pronounced the "sur" to have ended.

Speaking of the hanger, I wasted no time in showing up for work on Monday. I have already had the chance to go on 3 flights and am beginning to get "checked out" on some of the flight routes and airstrips. I guess I have been to busy flying because I was only able to take a few pictures of the SAMAIR hanger before an early morning flight. Stay tuned for more pictures and updates coming shortly.