Flying for Life - Dental and Women's Health

Mercy Air was scheduled to do another Flying for Life trip in mid November, but on this occasion the elements seemed to conspire against us.

We have weather radar and a storm scope in the aircraft and can safely navigate around most weather. However, we are also fortunate these days to have access to fairly accurate weather forecasting and it became obvious in the days leading up to the proposed trip that the conditions, particularly around Johannesburg for the return flight in the afternoon, would be less that favourable.

We therefore decided to cancel the trip, and that probably was one of the better calls we've had for a long time!

Below is a radar image of the storm we would have been flying into and back out of (dark red) in the top RH corner.

Here is a multiple image shot taken over a few minutes by some weather watchers in Jhb, at the time we would have returned.

There were also photographs of people who could only hold five pieces of hail in an outstretched hand!

Fortunately Africa can be quite flexible and after a few frantic phone calls, we were able to re-arrange the flight for the following week - when the forecast promised far better conditions.

So the trip was back on and this time Cathy, a nurse at Mercy Air, was also able to come along to help with some women's health issues.

Our team at the pick-up in Jhb...

..during the flight...

..and when we landed in Tshikondeni in Limpopo.

While the dental team got busy in the mobile dental unit..

Cathy got help from a very efficient local nurse for her series of pap-smears.

As in previous visits, after the clinic we visited a disability centre and took a few small gifts that were well received.

The area we visit is remote, even by South African standards, and is also quite neglected in terms of health provision.

This Makuya valley is one hours' drive away from the strip we land at

Tshikondeni airstrip

On the way back we were routed over Pretoria..

..and in particular the Union Buildings, the equivalent of the UK's Houses of Parliament.

The flight distance covered for this trip was about 1000 miles (1600 km), equivalent of flying from London to the north coast of Africa.

Thank you

Paul and Cathy for the Mercy Air team