Instructing in the mountains

A big portion of my flying career has been in flight instruction. For many years I worked at flight schools in South Africa. Instruction started as something I needed to do, and grew to become something I really love. I love being able to break down something complex, teach it, and see others learn and take to it well.

So it’s been with enthusiasm that I have spend the last few months working with and training Chad. Chad has been with MAF many years, and has a good bit of flight time. Their family were previously located in East DRC, before transferring to Lesotho in December last year.

They spent the first few months of their time in Lesotho getting their house fixed up, learning the language, and generally adapting to Lesotho life.

In June I began working with Chad to get him back in the Cessna 206, after spending years in Congo flying a Caravan.

After getting him comfortable again, we began going deeper into the mountains to check out some of our different airstrips. We typically start at the ‘easy’ ones and work our way to the hard ones. The reality is that the list of easy ones is one airstrip long… From number 2 we are already onto the hard ones!

Chad did great learning about all the specific challenges of these airstrips, and typically did at least 5 take off and landings at each of these airstrips with me on board.

After getting him signed off on 7 of our most common airstrips, and having him complete his written and practical tests for the Lesotho Department of Civil Aviation, he was good to go.

On Monday we had a short flight on the schedule that would work great for his first solo in Lesotho.

Have a watch of the 3 minute video linked below to see how that morning went, and how it ended for Chad. Keep in mind how cold Lesotho is in August as you watch the last minute!

Pulane Valley, Lesotho

Sometimes we have stories to share.

Sometimes we just want to share the place and the people, without a narrative. This short video is a hope to do that.

This video is intended to transport you, just for 2 minutes, to the beautiful place where Pulane Children’s Centre is found. The Pulane valley in Quthing, Lesotho. Enjoy the joy and beauty of the place and the people.

Strugnell News, March 2022

Summer storms

In 2022, I (Grant) took on the role as MAF Lesotho’s Chief Pilot. I am very excited about this, as it means I am in charge of training new pilots on the program, as well as ensuring our current pilots keep up to standard. I have always enjoyed the more advanced aspects of flight training, and am excited to work with our pilots and challenge them to be the best at what we do.

This means adding tasks to my existing roles of Director of Safety and Quality. MAF on a global scale has been taking big steps towards ensuring we meet international aviation standards and expectations. Taking safety seriously in our type of operation is a priority and translates into a fair bit of work on the legal and procedural side to ensure that we keep up with and surpass expected standards. It is work that I enjoy, and that makes all the difference.

Loading up an emergency medevac patient

MAF has been able slowly but surely increase our flying hours after we saw a decrease during the unsure pandemic years of 2020 and 2021. The Lesotho Flying Doctors restarted their weekly doctors visits to the clinics, as well as the daily 1-2 scheduled flights we do for nurses and supplies. After a significant rainy season, we are seeing an increase in the amount of emergency medical flights needed due to impassable rivers and bad roads in the mountains.

Emily’s work with Pulane Children’s Centre continues to be fruitful and challenging. I believe that’s the nature of any work with children. I am sure my mom, who has been a hardworking primary school teacher all her life, would echo that. No one is in that line of work because it’s easy! At PCC some children flourish and exceed what we could hope for, while others provide challenges and need a bit more time, love and energy to find a healthy path in life.

PCC kid smiles

Emily is passionate about improvements at PCC, and we have been learning how important it is to reunite children with families as much as possible. Often the easier option is to take a child in and know they will be provided for. But we have been challenged recently to think about their long-term development, and to try and find ways for them to remain in their villages with family members. This is not an overnight change. But rather a concept that we are trying to move towards over time. We are learning about how to improve PCC’s role in the community to help and support not just children, but families so that they can support their own children. It is exciting and extremely overwhelming!

For the first time since March 2020, Jane is back to regular school hours every day. We are so thankful for the return to some kind of normalcy and routine. It’s amazing how having the consistency of daily school really boosts what she is able to learn and absorb. She is now big time into Pokemon, and our household always seems to be in the midst of some kind of Pokemon showdown.

Jane ready for school

Our little puppy, Ghost, is growing fast and making sure our home is never too ‘put together.’ Puppies don’t have a medium mode: they are either very naughty, or very adorable, there is no in between.

Ghost

As the world continues to deal with challenges, heartbreak, anger and frustration on so many fronts, we are thankful you have chosen to support us and to help us make even a small change and improvement to some lives in the mountains of Lesotho. Thank you.