January 2000

Had a very eventful, more like overwhelming, visit to St. Louis. Monday morning I met with the Wings of Hope staff and toured their operation. It is a real first class operation. The hangar had 13 aircraft in it, in various states of repair ranging from pieces mounted in jigs to aircraft that looked brand new. I got a good look at the organization which is all over the world conducting humanitarian operations.

I met with the two chief pilots and flew a Cessna 210 for over two hours so that they could evaluate my piloting expertise. Their major concern was the many years since I had flown. It all went very well and we practiced short, soft field lands. Anyway, here's the story: My assignment is in the mountains of Guatamala, flying a Cessna 206 as a true bush pilot. The fields are short grass strips near remote villages. They plan to base me in a remote village where they have a house, there is no electricity or running water. Ed, one of the chief pilots, and I will ferry the aircraft from St. Louis where it is getting a new engine. The plane was brought from Guatamala by the last pilot to be assigned there. After Ed checks me out in the operation and introduces me to the village chiefs, he is going home to St. Louis and I will be by myself, one man, and one aircraft. I will fly everyday and go to the nearest city, Huehuetenago, once a week to call St. Louis and get supplies. The last pilot was based in Huehuetenago and I may end up basing there, too. The remote town, Mayalan, may be too remote. I will store fuel at Mayalan, but it has to come from a service station in Huehuetenago. (It is avgas, not car gas.)

Gina is beside herself. She says she is not going and does not want me to go. She thinks it's too dangerous. Of course, the main reason I was selected is because I'm committed to a year tour of duty and my Spanish training. The language is a major concern of mine. No one there speaks English, I'm not fluent in Spanish, and most of the people speak Spanish as a second language, Mayan being their first language. Gina has agreed to go if I'm based in Huehuetenago where there is electricity and running (not potable) water.