It's Been Too Long!!

So sorry it has been way too long since I updated my blog, June 18th to be exact. Wow! What a roller coaster of a ride it has been for David and I in these last few months! Where do I begin?

Well June and July were much of the same, a lot of figuring out this new management gig I got myself into and flying of course which is the fun part. David flew a lot as he always gets to do the fun part all the time! We did celebrate the 4th of July with our one lonely flare gun, and our own rendition of the Star Spangled Banner! In late July I flew back to the states to meet our new CEO in person. I stayed in Warrenton for one lousy week, in meetings from 7am to 11pm. It was very exhausting and unfortunately I had no time to see or visit anyone! It did however set the stage for how Air Serv wants to change management's focus on operations which is a good thing and has given us some confidence in the future of Air Serv.

Then August was much of the same I tried to delegate my management time between the Goma Base and the Kinshasa Base. David flew lots and was doing very well mostly tired from flying 6 days a week. He liked it even though he complained about working so hard! If you don't know already pilots are really good at complaining.

September came on a very disappointing note, Monday September 1 I got a call from our radio ops that our Beech 1900 is 15 minutes past due into Bukavu. This is the point where life's roller coaster started making the really steep descent. I am sure many of you already read all about the tragic accident. So Monday night we went to bed not knowing where our crew was. Yes you read in the papers that it wasn't Air Serv, but I lived and worked with those guys and they were great guys. Rudi at the beginning of his young career and Ronnie on his last contract at the beginning of his retirement, 23 years old and 58 years old. They were smart pilots only the Lord knows why the crash happened. The sorrow for the crew's families and the sorrow for all 15 passengers' families is very overwhelming. One article said "they gave their lives serving others" and I guess they truly did. It is very perplexing to me exactly why the Congo takes so many airplanes so tragically. Maybe it is as the National Geographic Show says it is one of the most dangerous jobs there are. Well I don't really know about that but I do know it is the most beautiful flying and you must respect the environment.

David was with the team of pilots who located the aircraft on the mountain. Then he got back to flying routinely well as much as possible. I became the DRC spokesperson with our International Chief Pilot, we worked closely with the UN. The UN pretty much took over operations for recovery. Those first 2 weeks of September I had to do things that I only read and had done research about, I researched it in order to implement an emergency response plan for my old company. You learn a lot when it is hands on. There are always should haves, would haves, could haves, but in the end the UN and our Air Serv team did a fine job in this difficult situation.

Dealing with the crash consumed September, and towards the end our new CEO paid a visit to us in the field giving us his condolences and letting everyone know that Amy is Officially the person in charge at Goma. So with that I obtained the much needed respect from the National Staff in order for me to be an effective Base Manager. And shortly after the announcement I got the heck out of dodge. David and I were long overdue for our R & R. On September 28 we flew to Cairo. We saw the pyramids and temples. So we have officially seen enough old rocks and dirt to last a good long while. Now we are enjoying our 5 star hotel until tomorrow night (Wednesday October 8th) then we head back to the far eastern edge of paradise!

We are ready to get back to work. I am excited about all the challenges and trials that lay ahead of us over the next few months. Hopefully it won't be as crazy as these last 4 months!

I will get pictures posted soon!