727 ...somebody needs to explain weight and balance to them!
I took this today in Kisangani.
It is rare to get him to smile in a photo!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Rare photos
Things are changing for David and I, and hopefully soon I will be able to tell you guys all about it. For now we are doing great. David has been in the US and I have been well all over Africa! Below are some rare photos....
727 ...somebody needs to explain weight and balance to them!
I took this today in Kisangani.
727 ...somebody needs to explain weight and balance to them! I took this today in Kisangani.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
From Durant, OK's The Buzz
Fulfillment in Africa for SOSU grads
By Scott Corbin
Flying airplanes in some of the world’s most violent places and landing on airstrips in
jungle clearings with most of the stumps removed likely is a little more excitement than most
people expect in a day. But it’s a life a former Durant resident and his wife love.
David and Amy Cathey are pilots for a non-governmental organization known as Air Serv
International. David is the son of Durant attorney Wendell and Juliet Cathey. He met McCloud,
Okla., native Amy at Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s aeronautical school. They married a month after graduation. David went to work as the pilot for Sundowner Trailers in Coleman, and Amy got a job in Dallas. But something was missing for each of them. David was the first to look for “something more fulfilling with his career,” venturing out for
six-month stints in Congo and Kabul, Afghanistan. Amy stayed in the United States while he started chasing his dream, since she had a highpaying position as flight director for
the Holly Corporation. But Amy said she had the same dream, even as a young girl in central Oklahoma. “Ever since I was a child I have wanted to be a pilot and fly in Africa,” Amy told The KLBC Buzz. “I am just one of those kinds of people that I’m motivated enough and am lucky to do what I dreamed of doing as a kid.” In 2007, Amy made a two-week visit to David’s home base in the Congo. “I absolutely fell in love with it as he had done,” she said. “There is
just something indescribable about Congo. Mostly, it is the people — the children and women — that my heart breaks for.” Congo, or the Democratic Republic of Congo and formerly
known as Zaire, was devastated by the the Second Congo War. It began in 1998 and claimed 5.4 million lives. It was the deadliest since World War II. Peace accords were signed in
2003, but fighting hasn’t stopped in the country’s east. That region has been identified as the world’s worst in prevalence and intensity of rape and sexual violence. Congo’s death
toll reportedly is still at an estimated 45,000 per month, largely due to widespread disease and famine. Almost half the fatalities are thought to be younger than 5. The country’s poor leadership plagues its rich potential, which is evident even from the air. As Amy said, “Just flying in Congo is pretty amazing. Not only does Congo have huge resources of gold, diamonds, copper, coltan, oil and hydro power, but the landscapes are like no other place in the world. They could make a lot off of just tourism alone if they could get their act together. Unfortunately, that is what makes Congo so tragic.” National Geographic Channel’s Explorer series recently featured the Congo bush pilots, and the Catheys attested it is basically true to life. The TV feature suggests Congo bush piloting might be one of the world’s most hazardous professions,
requiring pilots to land on some of the most challenging terrain. Large sections of the country
are impenetrable by road, so inhabitants are dependent on service from the sky. “I don’t know of anything really dangerous we do,” Amy said, “besides just flying in Congo.” Most of the Catheys’ Air Serv flights are for United Nations agencies and various relief organizations.
“Back during all the rebel activity, David evacuated 30 people out of far-north Kivu, back to Goma,” Amy said, referring to the armed Kivu conflict in which the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo became involved. “They had been attacked by some rebels and were very happy to see him.” David also spent six months flying in war-torn Afghanistan while Amy still flew corporate planes. “The most moving thing for me is flying the women who have been sexually violated,” Amy said. “We bring them from the field to Goma where HEAL Africa has a program
that allows them to have surgery to fix their bladder, teaches them how to sew, and then when they are healed mentally and physically, they give them a sewing machine, and we take them back home — sometimes. Getting to hang out with orphan kids on occasion is pretty cool too.”
Seeing the world is a remarkable benefit as well. The last e-mail The KLBC Buzz received from David and Amy was sent from Cape Town, South Africa, where they were taking a bit of a break. The couple also spent some time in Egypt, seeing the pyramids and riding camels. For information about Air Serv International, visit www.airserv.org. Follow the Catheys online at:
davidandamyslifeadventure.blogspot.com.
By Scott Corbin
Flying airplanes in some of the world’s most violent places and landing on airstrips in
jungle clearings with most of the stumps removed likely is a little more excitement than most
people expect in a day. But it’s a life a former Durant resident and his wife love.
David and Amy Cathey are pilots for a non-governmental organization known as Air Serv
International. David is the son of Durant attorney Wendell and Juliet Cathey. He met McCloud,
Okla., native Amy at Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s aeronautical school. They married a month after graduation. David went to work as the pilot for Sundowner Trailers in Coleman, and Amy got a job in Dallas. But something was missing for each of them. David was the first to look for “something more fulfilling with his career,” venturing out for
six-month stints in Congo and Kabul, Afghanistan. Amy stayed in the United States while he started chasing his dream, since she had a highpaying position as flight director for
the Holly Corporation. But Amy said she had the same dream, even as a young girl in central Oklahoma. “Ever since I was a child I have wanted to be a pilot and fly in Africa,” Amy told The KLBC Buzz. “I am just one of those kinds of people that I’m motivated enough and am lucky to do what I dreamed of doing as a kid.” In 2007, Amy made a two-week visit to David’s home base in the Congo. “I absolutely fell in love with it as he had done,” she said. “There is
just something indescribable about Congo. Mostly, it is the people — the children and women — that my heart breaks for.” Congo, or the Democratic Republic of Congo and formerly
known as Zaire, was devastated by the the Second Congo War. It began in 1998 and claimed 5.4 million lives. It was the deadliest since World War II. Peace accords were signed in
2003, but fighting hasn’t stopped in the country’s east. That region has been identified as the world’s worst in prevalence and intensity of rape and sexual violence. Congo’s death
toll reportedly is still at an estimated 45,000 per month, largely due to widespread disease and famine. Almost half the fatalities are thought to be younger than 5. The country’s poor leadership plagues its rich potential, which is evident even from the air. As Amy said, “Just flying in Congo is pretty amazing. Not only does Congo have huge resources of gold, diamonds, copper, coltan, oil and hydro power, but the landscapes are like no other place in the world. They could make a lot off of just tourism alone if they could get their act together. Unfortunately, that is what makes Congo so tragic.” National Geographic Channel’s Explorer series recently featured the Congo bush pilots, and the Catheys attested it is basically true to life. The TV feature suggests Congo bush piloting might be one of the world’s most hazardous professions,
requiring pilots to land on some of the most challenging terrain. Large sections of the country
are impenetrable by road, so inhabitants are dependent on service from the sky. “I don’t know of anything really dangerous we do,” Amy said, “besides just flying in Congo.” Most of the Catheys’ Air Serv flights are for United Nations agencies and various relief organizations.
“Back during all the rebel activity, David evacuated 30 people out of far-north Kivu, back to Goma,” Amy said, referring to the armed Kivu conflict in which the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo became involved. “They had been attacked by some rebels and were very happy to see him.” David also spent six months flying in war-torn Afghanistan while Amy still flew corporate planes. “The most moving thing for me is flying the women who have been sexually violated,” Amy said. “We bring them from the field to Goma where HEAL Africa has a program
that allows them to have surgery to fix their bladder, teaches them how to sew, and then when they are healed mentally and physically, they give them a sewing machine, and we take them back home — sometimes. Getting to hang out with orphan kids on occasion is pretty cool too.”
Seeing the world is a remarkable benefit as well. The last e-mail The KLBC Buzz received from David and Amy was sent from Cape Town, South Africa, where they were taking a bit of a break. The couple also spent some time in Egypt, seeing the pyramids and riding camels. For information about Air Serv International, visit www.airserv.org. Follow the Catheys online at:
davidandamyslifeadventure.blogspot.com.
David and His Special Passenger
A few weeks ago David wrote this email to some of our friends and family, and since he never writes in the blog because he says he does not know how, I cut and pasted it here so everyone could read:
I saw this article and found it both very sad and also interesting. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29719277 I think most people hear the word rape and think: "that is terrible" and it is, but what happens here in Congo is to me almost unimaginable. A little over a month ago I medevac'd a 9 year old girl that had been raped and then shot in her pelvic region. The only reason she was medevac'd was because we were in the area already, she was stable(that is a relative term) but without proper medical attention she would lose her legs, or worse. Lucky for her there was an American surgeon in town able to operate on her. Like so many things here in Congo I have no idea how it turned out. Kind of makes malaria look like a little cough.
David
P.S. For those that don't know I had malaria(with pneumonia) and had to be put in the hospital. But I am 100% now with no physical or mental scars.
But this story does have a happy ending two days ago, as I was checking passengers in somebody presented this man and his little girl to me explaining to me that they only speak Lingala and that we had flown them before. After hearing more of their story, I became very excited because we do know what the ending of this story is. I rushed out to the plane and had David guess who he had as a passenger. He had a great big grin on his face when he saw her get out of the troopie to get on to the plane. To him this little girl was much better than any movie star he has flown before. The little girl could walk with a limp and she kept a smile on her face. She has her life, but I can only imagine what her nightmares may be.
David, Mobya, and her dad
I saw this article and found it both very sad and also interesting. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29719277 I think most people hear the word rape and think: "that is terrible" and it is, but what happens here in Congo is to me almost unimaginable. A little over a month ago I medevac'd a 9 year old girl that had been raped and then shot in her pelvic region. The only reason she was medevac'd was because we were in the area already, she was stable(that is a relative term) but without proper medical attention she would lose her legs, or worse. Lucky for her there was an American surgeon in town able to operate on her. Like so many things here in Congo I have no idea how it turned out. Kind of makes malaria look like a little cough.
David
P.S. For those that don't know I had malaria(with pneumonia) and had to be put in the hospital. But I am 100% now with no physical or mental scars.
But this story does have a happy ending two days ago, as I was checking passengers in somebody presented this man and his little girl to me explaining to me that they only speak Lingala and that we had flown them before. After hearing more of their story, I became very excited because we do know what the ending of this story is. I rushed out to the plane and had David guess who he had as a passenger. He had a great big grin on his face when he saw her get out of the troopie to get on to the plane. To him this little girl was much better than any movie star he has flown before. The little girl could walk with a limp and she kept a smile on her face. She has her life, but I can only imagine what her nightmares may be.
David, Mobya, and her dadFriday, March 20, 2009
From AOPA Online
Flying humanitarians into hard-to-reach places
By Leslie VanSant
In 1984, the world was shocked into action by pictures and stories of famine and suffering coming out of Ethiopia. Humanitarian agencies rushed to provide food, water, emergency medical care, and shelter to millions of people. The relief effort was hampered by conflict and fighting; the most vulnerable were impossible for relief workers to reach safely with poor or non-existent roads and the violence. Enter Air Serv International: a group of dedicated aviation visionaries who realized the power of small-craft aviation in expanding the reach of relief and assistance during natural disasters and crises.
Loosely defining runways as paved or un-paved roads, dry river beds, or fields, Air Serv has safely and reliably increased the reach of humanitarian workers by providing aviation services—including transportation of goods, services, and relief workers; medical evacuations; and repatriation of displaced persons. Their nimble fleet of small aircraft—Twin Otters, Cessna Caravans, Beechcraft King Air, and Embraer 120s—safe and suitable for takeoff and landing on short runways, has powered this nonprofit organization to some amazing statistics. In the last decade alone, more than 230,000 passengers and 1,600 metric tons of supplies have reached their intended destination via Air Serv.
“When access is most difficult because of complex emergencies and natural disasters, humanitarian workers turn to Air Serv,” said experienced aviation professional James R. Plaxton, CEO of Air Serve. Plaxton joined Air Serv in 2007 as a volunteer consultant and was tapped by the board as full-time CEO in June 2008. “They are confident knowing our professional staff can safely fly our planes in and out of challenging situations.”
From its start in Ethiopia nearly 25 years ago, Air Serv has performed vital flight operations in 36 countries across Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, and Asia. Currently Air Serv is providing services in Chad, Mozambique, Congo, Uganda, and Iraq, where the first non-military flight after the 2003 outbreak of war was operated by Air Serv.
The organization has flown humanitarian response personnel from more than 200 organizations, as well as celebrities and government officials ranging from then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama to Angelina Jolie and Don Cheadle. They have partnered with major humanitarian agencies including World Vision, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), and the Red Cross to fly in assistance and personnel.
During this time, the humanitarian industry has grown, operations have become more complex, and the needs of the vulnerable have become even greater; yet Air Serv has found it hard to escape the idea of it as a group of swashbuckling “bush pilots,” which does not convey the operation’s reliability and dedication to safety. Air Serv recognized a need to professionalize in order to provide a higher level of service to more agencies and to enable more vulnerable people to access assistance.
Under Plaxton’s immediate guidance, Air Serv began planning and implementing a modernization program to catapult its operations out of the bush leagues and into the majors. Operating under a Part 91 status from the FAA, Air Serv is working to also acquire a Part 135 air operations certificate to cover its expanding global operations serving the humanitarian community.
“It is our goal to be able to respond where the need is greatest,” said Plaxton. To that end, the organization seeks funding that will enable it to operate anywhere there is need, “not just where the donors provide the funding.”
With undesignated response funding, Air Serv will be able to establish short-term disaster-based operations based upon need, while maintaining its ongoing response to crises like Darfur.
With a modern and efficient fleet and tracking, ticketing, and maintenance program, Air Serv is well positioned to fly the humanitarian industry where it needs to go well into the future. With the continued support of the public, the organization will be financially secure enough to expand operations when there is need during a disaster and maintain the highest levels of technology and safety.
To learn more about Air Serv International, visit the Web site.
March 19, 2009
By Leslie VanSant
In 1984, the world was shocked into action by pictures and stories of famine and suffering coming out of Ethiopia. Humanitarian agencies rushed to provide food, water, emergency medical care, and shelter to millions of people. The relief effort was hampered by conflict and fighting; the most vulnerable were impossible for relief workers to reach safely with poor or non-existent roads and the violence. Enter Air Serv International: a group of dedicated aviation visionaries who realized the power of small-craft aviation in expanding the reach of relief and assistance during natural disasters and crises.
Loosely defining runways as paved or un-paved roads, dry river beds, or fields, Air Serv has safely and reliably increased the reach of humanitarian workers by providing aviation services—including transportation of goods, services, and relief workers; medical evacuations; and repatriation of displaced persons. Their nimble fleet of small aircraft—Twin Otters, Cessna Caravans, Beechcraft King Air, and Embraer 120s—safe and suitable for takeoff and landing on short runways, has powered this nonprofit organization to some amazing statistics. In the last decade alone, more than 230,000 passengers and 1,600 metric tons of supplies have reached their intended destination via Air Serv.
“When access is most difficult because of complex emergencies and natural disasters, humanitarian workers turn to Air Serv,” said experienced aviation professional James R. Plaxton, CEO of Air Serve. Plaxton joined Air Serv in 2007 as a volunteer consultant and was tapped by the board as full-time CEO in June 2008. “They are confident knowing our professional staff can safely fly our planes in and out of challenging situations.”
From its start in Ethiopia nearly 25 years ago, Air Serv has performed vital flight operations in 36 countries across Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, and Asia. Currently Air Serv is providing services in Chad, Mozambique, Congo, Uganda, and Iraq, where the first non-military flight after the 2003 outbreak of war was operated by Air Serv.
The organization has flown humanitarian response personnel from more than 200 organizations, as well as celebrities and government officials ranging from then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama to Angelina Jolie and Don Cheadle. They have partnered with major humanitarian agencies including World Vision, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), and the Red Cross to fly in assistance and personnel.
During this time, the humanitarian industry has grown, operations have become more complex, and the needs of the vulnerable have become even greater; yet Air Serv has found it hard to escape the idea of it as a group of swashbuckling “bush pilots,” which does not convey the operation’s reliability and dedication to safety. Air Serv recognized a need to professionalize in order to provide a higher level of service to more agencies and to enable more vulnerable people to access assistance.
Under Plaxton’s immediate guidance, Air Serv began planning and implementing a modernization program to catapult its operations out of the bush leagues and into the majors. Operating under a Part 91 status from the FAA, Air Serv is working to also acquire a Part 135 air operations certificate to cover its expanding global operations serving the humanitarian community.
“It is our goal to be able to respond where the need is greatest,” said Plaxton. To that end, the organization seeks funding that will enable it to operate anywhere there is need, “not just where the donors provide the funding.”
With undesignated response funding, Air Serv will be able to establish short-term disaster-based operations based upon need, while maintaining its ongoing response to crises like Darfur.
With a modern and efficient fleet and tracking, ticketing, and maintenance program, Air Serv is well positioned to fly the humanitarian industry where it needs to go well into the future. With the continued support of the public, the organization will be financially secure enough to expand operations when there is need during a disaster and maintain the highest levels of technology and safety.
To learn more about Air Serv International, visit the Web site.
March 19, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Women's Day
March the 8th was International Women's Day. The Congolese women celebrate by dancing in the streets and leaving their husbands at home to take care of the kids. Whenever they celebrate something they always make a special dress all in the same material. I had great fun with the ladies and learning what Women's day means for the Congolese. They told me that it was the freedom of being able to work and have more respect from their husband. They all told me that their mothers were not allowed to even eat at the same table with their father. Although now within the city many of the women do not suffer as did their mothers, they are thankful and know that out in the villages women still suffer from hard labor, rape, and losing their husbands to the war and having to raise their families on their own. These women have amazing stories and they are amazing women.Sunday, March 8, 2009
Team Building
The compound we live in is a beautiful place isolated by huge concrete walls from the harsh realities of life in Goma. Within the compound are two identical houses with 8 bedrooms a piece, we can have anywhere from 5 people to 12 people live with us at any given time. The compound is located right on the beautiful and mysterious Lake Kivu. About a month ago we started a great team building project. As you can see from the pictures our diving platform is approximately 25 feet at the highest point to the water. We have great fun jumping off and it was great fun watching the guys build it. Our national staff all think we are a bit crazy!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
The Western Cape
David has conquered Malaria!
Cape Town
Penguin (one of only two places in the world these penguins are)
Trying to pet the penguins
A long way from home!
The Cape of Good Hope
Cape Agulhus, the True Southern Most Tip of Africa!We finally made it to our second R & R. David arrived in Cape Town with Malaria so on the second day of our R & R, David was admitted into the hospital. The doctor said he has not just malaria but also pneumonia, and they were really scared that the malaria would spread to his lungs. So he spent 2 days in the hospital. He only got to get out and go to the hotel the second day because the nurses were on strike and the doctor's were confident that his lungs did not have malaria in them. Thank goodness we had a really nice hotel on the beach. After one week nursing David, he finally started feeling better and the doctor felt he was making great progress, so we rented a car and started a very nice journey from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. We would drive a few hours a day along the coast and then find a nice B & B. The pictures below explain it very well.
Now we are back in Goma and starting to get into the groove of work. It is really nice to be back! David is feeling 100% now. Praise the Lord!
Now we are back in Goma and starting to get into the groove of work. It is really nice to be back! David is feeling 100% now. Praise the Lord!
Cape Agulhus
A cave at Arniston
A Man Powered Ferry
Mossel Bay
Storms River Mouth, Suspension Bridge
See he is feeling better, zip ling through the forest
Hiking to a waterfall
The Waterfall.
A Man Powered Ferry
Mossel Bay
Storms River Mouth, Suspension Bridge
See he is feeling better, zip ling through the forest
Hiking to a waterfall
The Waterfall.
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