Wanted: Memories of Bob Norton
Dear AMA Family,
Just wanted to touch base with you folks regarding the search. Presently behind the scene plans are being laid to continue searching, starting with zone D. Those in charge are trying to maximize the funds given for the search. Bob Edwards plans to go down in September to participate in the search with Celso and CP people, and he plans to do some videoing out in the jungle for a DVD regarding the search. Presently my mother is in Venezuela, accompanying friends who are visiting there, so remember her in prayer. There are business things she needed to take care of and people with whom she wanted to talk.
I am putting together a memory letter with pictures of Bob and Neiba to share with the AMA family. If any of you wish to share what your friendship with them means, how you met, a memory you have of visiting with them, please send it now to this email address: amaavion {at} gmail(.)com.
God is ever in control and I am encouraged by those who want to continue the work for the Indian people of Venezuela and continue to search for the missing plane as long as God opens doors. If you wish to contribute funds for the search a fund has been set up at Outpost Centers. Send a separate paper on which you write that the donation is for Norton Search. Thanks for your continued prayers for this venture and all the families who still grieve their lost loved ones.
Clinging to the Blessed Hope and Jesus soon return,
Barbara Kay (Bob's sister)
Outpost Centers Inc.
5340 Layton Lane,
Apison, TN 37302
Norton Search Documentary
NORTON SEARCH DOCUMENTARY FILM PROJECT
By Bob Edwards
Prepared: August 6, 2009
On February 16, 2009 at approximately 7:45 AM my close friend Captain Robert “Bob” Norton, his wife and 5 others went missing in the jungles of Venezuela. Bob has been serving there as a missionary pilot to the Indigenous Indians for the past 8 years and was on a emergency medical flight from Karum to Bethel in his plane.
The Venezuelan Civil Protection and the Indigenous Indians immediately began searching for them in the dense jungle.. As they began their physical search there, we pulled together a team consisting of engineers, pilots, medical professionals, search experts and computer analysts here in the U.S. We contacted GeoEYE and Digital Globe to get current satellite images of the areas where we believed the plane went down. We also began working with an organization that specializes in finding missing aircraft called Missing Aircraft Search Team (M.A.S.T.). Together we developed a search plan with a prioritized, zone by zone, analysis of where the plane might have gone down.
It has been more than 5 months and we continue to work together to try to find the missing plane and it’s occupants. We have also sent down pieces of technology (i.e. GPS Transponder, GPS Tracker, and a digital camera) for the Venezuelan ground search team to assist with the search effort.
At this point in the search, we have decided to produce a documentary about the search effort and about the work that Captain Norton was doing. We are doing this to raise awareness about the search and to help keep the search efforts going. We are looking for sponsors for this documentary.
I plan to return to Venezuela in September to film the work being done by the Indians and to film and interview members of the Civil Protection to show the incredible work that has been done there. I will also be filming some of those who have been helped by Captain Norton through the past 8 years. We currently have a little over $2500 in the search account at OCI, which is enough to send the ground search team back into the jungle for a month. We need to raise additional funds for the camera equipment and other gear needed for the trip down in September.
If you are interested in helping in any way please contact me directly or send your tax deductible donations marked “Bob Norton Search” to:
Outpost Centers International
5340 Layton Lane
Apison, TN 37302
Tel: 423.236.5600
Thank you so much for your support in this challenging search effort. Proceeds from the documentary will be used to continue the search effort.
Also, if you want to see pictures and updates from the search effort go to the discussion board “Finding Bob Norton” on Facebook or tag me as a friend on Facebook.
Bob Edwards
206 Lind St., McMinnville, TN 37110
Cell 423.280.8217 / Home 931.474.2477
theadventureteam {at} yahoo(.)com
July 27, 2009 Update From Bob Edwards
As the search continues:
We have relatively new intel from a Brazilian man who was near Maurak at a gold mine the morning the plane went missing. He claims he saw the plane fly over around 9:00 am, which would allign with a scenario that Bob had problems and was headed back to home base in Maurak or Santa Elena. The Brazilian gave some details about where he was and where he saw the plane go over. He said it appeared to be having trouble and the engine was not running. He claims that he told some of the leaders from the Maurak area shortly after the plane went missing about this, but this is new intel for us and the Civil Protection. We are not sure how accurate this data is, however, Celso and his team are headed to the area to check it out. It is fairly close to Maurak and a long ways away from the current search zones, however, it can be searched with little resources and therefore will be checked out before they head back to the deep jungle search areas in August.
Our meeting a couple of weekends ago with Dr. Garcia and Andrehina Diaz in Texas was very beneficial. They continue to support in anyway possible. They carried supplies back to help with the ground search effort.
We sent some financial help down to Celso to pay for the expenses incurred so far. He was very appreciative. He also now has a hand held GPS, a SPOT GPS transponder and a waterproof digital camera to help document the search efforts.
Nytta Norton (Bob's mom) will be going down on the 10th of August. She will be meeting with Celso while there to thank him and to deliver any additional instructions from the analysis team.
We continue to process the new satellite images to determine if there are POIs in Search Zone D and surrounding areas that need to be investigated.
Cesar, from Civil Protection is doing detailed analysis of the radio propagation from the 40 meter radio Bob was using. This will continue to refine the search zones and will elliminate some of them due to the low probability of transmission due to the distances.
And as God provides... "we press ahead"
May Update on Missing Plane
Dear AMA Family,
On Sunday, May 24, a group of pilots, computer techs, analysts, and engineers gathered at Cloudland Canyon State park in Georgia for a strategic summit meeting regarding the Norton search. As team leader Bob Edwards organized and arranged this meeting for the purpose of determining the primary and secondary search zones. Rick and Debbie Slatten drove down from Minnesota bringing a tremendous set of skills to the search effort. They are with M.A.S.T. and specialize in finding missing aircraft. Rick lead the team in analyzing the information presented to decide which area is the most probable place the airplane went down. Two persons involved with the search came up from Venezuela and brought to the discussion table the facts, both from the search and information gleaned from questioning those who supposedly heard or saw the airplane as well as the last people who spoke with Bob—Celso and the nurse at Karum. (Below: Bob Edwards is ready to start the meeting.)
Their report contained the following facts. February 16 the government organization for search and rescue received the report that this Cessna 182 tail #YV2480 flown by Capitan Roberto Norton with 6 other passengers was missing. That very day they begin gathering information but could not fly to the area due to low hanging clouds and restricted visibility. However, the following day they began searching by air and also by ground between Karum and Betel according to the report given them by Celso concerning Bob’s planned flight. The government law stipulates that they look for 8 days, but in the case where there is the possibility people are alive this can be extended, so for 16 days they flew using 4 helicopters and 4 other aircraft. 142 people were searching, 113 by land and 29 by air during those first 2 weeks. Based in Paragua, 65 miles north of Karum, the government search covered 8357 square nautical miles and they flew a total of 195:42 hours.
JD Brown explaining his calculations from flying a flight simulator with the known information to determine the zones picked for imaging to search.
Everywhere there were a couple huts a helicopter would land to inquire and let the Indigenous villagers know of the search. Any “story” was followed up. The helpful information turned out to be that a group of fishermen on an island had heard the airplane passing by that Monday morning and people in a mining camp also heard the plane at the time of day Bob Norton was flying. On the 19th or 20th a pilot of one of their large helicopters picked up a 6 second transmission in English on the emergency frequency. The transmission was not recorded but the helicopter did have a Directional Finder that locked on a heading of 270 degrees (+/- 3 degree accuracy.) Thus the search narrowed to the south of Mount Waikinima and on the western side rather than closer to Betel. Except along the river there are huge jungle areas where no one lives. As to date no one they have questioned has seen anyone or anything of plane or people, which leads all concerned to the assumption that they went down in an unpopulated area.
In trying to figure out which route Norton flew the last radio transmission between pilot and Celso was considered and discussed. All that was understood was AMA a (to) AMA followed by rapid talking. Celso asked Bob to repeat, and again he could not understand the message. None of the villages had their radios on that early in the morning, and no one else was flying in the area to pick up a transmission. In the meeting the radio expert from Venezuela explained where it was possible for Bob to be in order for Celso to pick up his signal on the radio, and where he would not have been heard at all.
The couple at the far end of the table are Rick and Debbie Slatten. There were at least 20 people at the meeting. The picture below is at the village of Karum.
The concern that the plane was hijacked or the people kidnapped were discussed by the team. Several facts show that this is highly unlikely. Everyone on the airplane was accounted for. All the small strips in the vicinity where Bob might have landed in an emergency have been searched. Everyone the government search people talked to in the entire area have high regards for Capitan Norton and his medical emergency work, including the military people. Further, something would have leaked out and the Indian grape vine out in the jungle would have had the news spread far and wide weeks ago. There is no basis for assuming this might have happened.
This case is open and the Civil Protection organization can continue the search if they have new information. Those at the meeting analyzed the data, facts, probabilities, and prayed for wisdom concerning which area is most likely that the airplane went down. In this zone, but not limited too, the search will continue.
This map shows the search area and all the colored markings are where the helicopters and airplanes flew during the search. At the top is the village of Paragua and at the bottom the village of Karum. The photo below is a view of the jungle, a sample of the difficulty of seeing anything besides trees.
There are specific concerns we as a “family” need to pray about at this time, knowing God cares and will guide and help. For several weeks now the satellite image pictures have not been obtained due to cloudy conditions. Pray that there will be a clearing in the clouds the next time the satellite goes over that jungle area (God knows when and where). It has been helpful to those in Venezuela to have the Points of Interest, and by sending these down the CP can go out looking. The men in the jungle with Celso are having health problems due to mosquitoes and thus malaria. The plan is to get them medicine. Pray for their safety and health, because when they are sick they can’t search. Pray that a helicopter will be available in a couple weeks to go fly over the zone determined by the team to be the most probable location. Pray for wisdom as plans are made for the search in this area. However God leads you to fast and pray in the next couple weeks please link with others who are doing the same. We are children of a Mighty God whose arm is not shortened that it can not save. I still believe that all things are possible, and the hunt for the “needle in a haystack” can come to an end in finding the lost.
As I associated with those who joined together from Washington to Tennessee, from Venezuela to Maine, on Lookout Mountain last Sunday I felt a spirit of unity as all were of one mind and purpose. I felt friendship. I sensed love and caring. I was blessed to listen and learn. Thank you each one who came. To all of my fellow travelers on the roadway of life, don’t give up. Not in this, not in other areas of your life where Satan may be seeking to discourage you. It is darkest just before dawn. If God be for us, who can be against us?
For a finished Search,
Barbara Kay (Bob Norton's sister)
Disappearance of the Venezuela Mission Plane
Nearly eight years ago, at the request of 30 village captains and
ADRA/Venezuela, my wife Becky and I began praying for a pilot that
could replace us in Guyana so we could move to Venezuela to open up
the medical aviation work there. When Gary and Wendy Roberts were
lead of God to take up the work in Guyana, we made the move across.
God provided a beautiful small Cessna 172 and I also carried
responsibilities as Associate Director of Communication and ADRA for
the Union. We called the program AMA (Aviación Médico Adventista -
Adventist Medical Aviation), which means “Love” in Spanish.
With the expanding worldwide work, it became rapidly clear that I
would be unable to carry the daily load that a medical aviation
program required. That is when I ran into Bob Norton in Collegedale
airport. I hadn’t seen him for years and discovered that he was
finishing his aviation training and had just married a Venezuelan
nurse. Suddenly I began to see what God was doing. He had already
started putting together a perfect solution for the need in
Venezuela.
Bob and Neiba accepted the position with somewhat trembling knees
as they had not considered leaving everything in order to work as
volunteers. Many of their friends counseled against such a move.
However, they felt God’s calling and made their choice. It was to
leave everything behind and trust God with the future. That choice
was to affect the lives of thousands of native Amerindians living in
the beautiful but isolated jungles of Southeast Venezuela. Though the
Cessna 172 had an upgraded engine put in, Bob fell in love with the
Cessna 182. Two such aircraft were purchased.
As some of my previous emails have mentioned, there have been many
challenges which threatened to close the program. But in every case,
God protected and multiplied the impact of that small airplane
piloted by a man who loved to save lives and share God’s love. At
home, Neiba carried heavy loads of helping with communication and
coordinating all the small details and finances. Their loving service
earned the respect and love of the Amerindians throughout the entire
Southeast region of Venezuela, known as the state of Bolivar.
On Monday, February 16, a rainy overcast day, Bob loaded the
airplane with his wife Neiba and ex-school principal, Gladys. He left
the city of Santa Elena de Uairen and headed North for scheduled
maintenance on the plane and to take care of business. As frequently
happens, after takeoff he was advised by HF radio of some patients to
be transported from the village of Karum. After landing he took off
headed for Bethel, a second village further North. In between the two
villages is a mountain range. Going around to the East was flatter,
while the river wound around to the West, but was bordered by some
gorges.
The plane never arrived. Some villagers state hearing the plane in
the distance but then hearing nothing more. Intensive searches have
involved the government and especially the Governor’s helicopter.
Several groups of Amerindians have been scouring the jungles on foot
throughout that area.
The governor’s office has been very kind to provide for the
costs of the helicopter, while the government has helped with fuel
for aircraft willing to participate in the search. However, the food
and supplies for the ground teams has not been met so Gospel
Ministries International has sent funds to cover this and will
continue doing so.
There is also a group of persons who are raising funds to have
extremely high resolution satellite photos taken of the entire region
so that they can scan them for any sign of wreckage. To assist with
this project, contact Bob Edwards at bob.edwards {at} ge(.)com
The efforts from all parties show the level of love and
appreciation that has existed for Bob, Neiba and Gladys.
Trying to comprehend what has happened is difficult as it has not
been resolved yet. There are still questions, such as why weren’t
there any Emergency Locator Transmissions from the radio which is
carried by every plane? Did the plane actually go down in the
jungles, or might it have gone down in the river? Did it have an
engine failure or was bad visibility a factor while flying around the
mountains? Some still hold out hope as there have planes that have
gone down in the past and indigenous tribes have rescued and cared
for them for long periods of time before releasing them.
At present, from all human evidences, there is nothing that would
provide any hope of finding them alive. However, we do know one
thing. God is in the process of advancing His work, not moving it
backward. This painful experience will someday prove to be just the
event needed to move God’s work forward throughout Venezuela. It
will honor God and His people by drawing attention of the world to
His work and will prove an impulse to everyone to serve God will all
our heart, mind and soul.
I am in almost daily contact with those directing the search
parties, which have included up to 160 indigenous volunteers. Having
just finished several days in Venezuela assisting in the development
of a single, organized task team, I am thankful for this Godly team
which is determined to find the plane at all cost. Everyone is also
thankful for the many offers of overseas friends to join the search
down in Venezuela. Search administrators are asking that, due to the
current political climate, the assistance be in the form of support
for local searchers. Funds coming in to GMI for the Bob Norton
account will be used in coordination with Bob’s mother and sister,
to support continuing the search work, to support present AMA staff
and to complete repair of the second Cessna 182.
I want to thank everyone who has financially supported the search
efforts and ask everyone to please continue praying for the search
parties, for the finding of the plane and especially for the families
and loved ones who wait anxiously for any news, that God will
strengthen and protect them. We do know that God is using these
events to focus the world on His work and message. It will advance
His work in Venezuela.
David Gates
AR – Venezuela Search Continues
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Venezuela: Search Continues for Missing Medical Missionary Plane
BY LIBNA STEVENS, news coordinator, Inter-America Division [ See Original Story ]
Adventist search teams continue looking for a medical missionary plane which went missing on Monday February 16 in the jungles of La Gran Sabana in southeastern Venezuela. The Cessna 182N plane, piloted by Robert Norton, who volunteers for the Adventist Medical Aviation (AMA) in Venezuela, is believed to have hit turbulent weather after taking off from the community of Carun en route to Bethel. Also in the plane were six passengers: Neiba Norton, wife of the pilot, Gladis Zerpa an Adventist teacher, a woman accompanying a 14-year-old, and a woman traveling with her young son. "Our church is really distraught about the news of this tragedy," said Rodolfo Escobar, communication director for Venezuela-Antilles Union Mission. Escobar said church members in Gran Sabana began searching for the missing plane as soon as they heard the news. The National Civil Aviation Institute and several air rescue and non-government organizations immediately began their search but were forced to stop after 72 hours. The search continued Thursday with contracted rescue organizations. "We are running out of money to pay for the rescue planes but are trusting that God will provide what we need to find our people," Escobar said. Search operations will continue as long as funds are available, he added.
According to Escobar, there were several accounts from villagers in the adjacent distant areas of Carun who heard the plane's engines go silent at some point during the stormy weather. "We have formed groups to search on the air and several more groups on foot to scour the region where the plane’s communication was last heard," said Escobar. "We have asked our church members to take a moment to pray every hour of the day for those missing, and we are appealing to our members all around the world to join us in this effort asking for God's intervention during this situation," said Escobar. Pilot Robert Norton has more than 20 years of flying experience. For the last eight years, he has been the director and pilot of AMA Venezuela, which is based on the campus of La Gran Sabana Adventist School in Santa Elena de Uairén in the state of Bolivar. His wife Neiba, a registered nurse, also works by caring for indigenous people in need of medical attention. The Adventist Medical Aviation is an international project established more than 12 years ago by David Gates. AMA provides emergency medical transportation and evangelistic support to dozens of otherwise inaccessible villages, enabling the inhabitants to have another chance at
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The Missing Mission Plane
Very early on Monday morning, February 16, 2009 the AMA Venezuela plane took off and headed north toward Ciudad Bolivar.
Experienced mission pilot Bob Norton has been flying in southeast Venezuela for 8 years. His wife Neiba usually stays at home, but this time she accompanied her husband.
The plane landed briefly at the village of Karum, possibly to pick up patients.
Bob called the radio operator at his next stop, the village of Bethel to ask about weather conditions and give an ETA (estimated time of arrival). The weather was stormy, but Bob had been flying in stormy weather quite often without any mishaps. But this time the airplane disappeared, possibly somewhere in the dense jungle along the route traced below.
During the flight between Karum and Bethel, Bob called the Bethel radio operator. But the message was garbled, and nobody understood what was being said. When the plane did not arrive at Bethel as expected, aviation authorities were notified.
Search parties by air and by ground were organized, but many days went by and there was no sign of the plane or its passengers.
Gladys Zerpa (left), teacher and administrator of Colgransa Adventist boarding school was in the plane when it disappeared.
Also on board was a 14-year-old girl and a newborn baby, each accompanied by a parent.
Friends of the Nortons and AMA Venezuela arranged with Google Earth to do a high definition satellite scan of the area, and many volunteers are looking for any possible signs of the missing plane.
Thousands of people in Venezuela have been helped by Bob and Neiba's ministry. Many lives have been saved, and the people love "their" plane and pilot.
Bob loved the people, he loved serving God, and he served by faith, volunteering his time without a salary, trusting God to provide funding through donors who wanted to help make a difference in the lives of others.
Bob's father Elwin Norton died in the mountains of south Mexico in 1980 when his plane crashed into a mountainside after both magnetos failed.
Bob's brother Bill currently serves in Papua New Guinea as a mission pilot.
This time of waiting has been difficult for the family and friends of Bob Norton, as well as the loved ones of four other families of those who were in the plane.
Bob's sister Barbara has been very much involved in his ministry. She edited and sent out his monthly e-mail reports, shared his video updates and since Bob's disappearance, has kept folks updated on any news during the search.
Her inspirational message below, written six days after the plane disappeared, confirms her faith that ultimately, God is in control.
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February 22, 2009 Friends, The outpouring of concern touches my heart. From homes, churches, and hearts so many of you have indicated that prayers are ascending in behalf of this desperate and sad situation. While I can't answer each of you individually right now, I thank you for writing, and for your prayers. The news I received last night is that while the search continued yesterday, nothing was found. There are groups of Indians looking in the jungle area where they think the airplane may have gone down. While I don't want to dash the faith of any of you, I do want to share this message from my heart. What happened on Monday is history. If Bob were alive he would have sent up some sort of signal. I do believe in miracles. Over and over God has sustained and protected. However, we are in enemy territory and Satan has been very angry about this ministry for years. In reality--and those of you who are pilots agree with me--there really is no possibility of them being alive. I know we don't want to think of the hard facts of tragic deaths, and long to hold tight to the belief that they will be found alive. Faith clings to God's hand when our desires are crushed. It holds fast to the fact that God is love and cares for our hurting hearts. Read the entire "faith chapter" in Hebrews 11. Those who perished by sword, famine, martyrdom had great faith. God doesn't always rescue. Sin runs its course. There are causalities on the battle field. I know this isn't the update message you wish to hear, but I've had to write it. My hope is anchored in God's Word and His promises. To these I cling, as I continue to pray for those searching and God's comfort with all the family and friends of those involved. God knows the desires of each of your hearts. Bob and Neiba's desire, should they be able to speak with you just now, would be that this season of prayer would be for the advancement of God's kingdom. Our entreaties to the throne room of the universe should be as earnest for the salvation of souls as it is for the return of the lost. May this time of prayer be a heart cleansing experience for each of us. Jesus coming is very near. God bless you and comfort you today. Barbara |
This link has information about the search efforts, along with links to other online articles about the missing plane. Click here if you wish to contact Barbara.
Webmaster note: Bob and his family have been good friends of my family since 1968, when our parents served as volunteer missionaries in Chiapas, Mexico. It has been a privilege to be a part of Bob's ministry. Our son Daniel flew with Bob, and currently volunteers as a mission pilot in Bolivia.
~Fred Adams~
Frustrations . . .
Hi Everyone,
It finally quit raining and we've started into a very late dry season, I thought when we'd had two sunny days in a row.
I was wrong, because every day it continues raining, which makes for muddy strips. Many have lots of water standing on them, which is very wearing when I have to splash down a dozen times or so.
We've been making progress taking medical help into the villages, as our plan from the beginning has been to help the ailing before their sickness becomes life threatening and they have to go to a hospital. At times I've thought we'd never make this goal. However, the head of various health departments have been replaced by people who want to work with us to help the Indians, so I'm able to fly doctors into the villages now.
People in a small village collected these bags of clothes to send to another village in need.
When there are many sick in a village they call Celso, our radio operator and flight coordinator, asking that he please send a doctor. 
Then we ask around among those doctors willing to go until one agrees. He'll tell me, "I'll go tomorrow." Well, when tomorrow comes he says, "I can't go until I get some medicines, perhaps tomorrow." And so it goes, day after day, sometimes for weeks, until some doctor has meds and is ready. Then I fly him out to the village who called for help. Whether I stay to bring the doctor home depends on how far away the village is, and how many patients need care. Sometimes I leave him in the village for a couple days.
For two weeks we have been trying to find someone to go out to three different villages, so maybe this is the week someone will be ready to go. Maybe tomorrow? It is not easy to get anything done in this culture. This is just one example of the frustrations I deal with on a daily basis.
(The picture at right is of a med team I took to the village of Uricima.)
Another ongoing frustration concerns a yearling horse. It hangs around the buildings and tries to get under the porch when it is raining. The problem with this sociable fellow is that when I taxi the airplane onto the runway he runs out in front of me, and when I am landing he also runs onto the strip. We can't have that, so I talked to the owners. They came and collected their horse, and I thought we were through dealing with it. Well, not quite, because the next day he showed up again. I chased him away, but the next day he returned. So, we informed his owners and they came after him, and then the next day . . . well, you get the idea.
This went on for months, and finally I'd had enough. Celso and I told the owners that if they couldn't keep their horse off the runway they would have to sell him to us. So they did. Celso took him and tied him up. His kids were going to have a lot of fun with their new pet. However, the following day the ex-owners returned to claim their horse, even though they had signed papers and received money in payment. So, the horse went back to them. The next day it was on the airstrip again! I was more than frustrated by this point. Celso and I trekked over to talk once more with the owners. They came and took the horse home, but he likes our place better, and next day was back. I got on my bike and chased it half way up the mountain. We'll see if he is back tomorrow. Frustration can be a part of every day—it's just the way things are.
Bob & Neiba Norton
P.S. If you would like to see some short video clips of the AMA plane landing and taking off from some of the challenging airstrips, click here, or you may also go to www.YouTube.com and type in the video search box: enorton25.
God Opens Paths Through the Rain
When I got up Friday morning I thought it would be an easy day. I had only one flight scheduled, patients to return to Awarauka and then a 20 minute hop over to Kamarata to pick up a woman with pregnancy problems who needed to be in the hospital. Just as I was getting the airplane ready to leave, Celso came by. "I just had a call from Vista Alegre. There is a very sick baby who needs a flight."
"Okay, I'll go to Vista Alegre first," I told him, "taking a load of patients who have been waiting for a flight home to Wonken for several days. Then I'll head out for Awarauka and Kamarata."
After landing in Wonken with three passengers who were very happy to be home, I headed to Vista Alegre. The weather was not good with rain everywhere. I dropped down into the little valley, picked up the mother and her sick baby and then took off for Santa Elena. Just one more round, I thought, as I lit at Santa Elena. The weather was worsening. For weeks we've had nothing but rain; it just won't stop!
As I took off with well patients to leave in Awarauka and Weneweneken I had to fly mostly with my vision fixed upon the instrument panel. I wondered if I'd be able to land at Awarauka, but figured if I couldn't I'd fly down the river to Uriman and let them go on home by boat the following day. But, what about those whose home was Weneweneken? As I considered my options Celso called me on the radio to inform me that it was socked in at Uriman and raining hard. "There's a sick baby in Awarauka to pick up," he added.
"Okay," I answered, "That will work just fine, that is if I can land there."
His next words were, "It is also raining hard at Weneweneken and the village of Karum is begging you to come pick up a pregnant lady who is not doing well." I glanced at my watch and calculated the time. I would still be back home an hour before dark."
I prayed that Awarauka would be open so I could land there before it started raining there again. Just minutes out it was still raining hard. Again I asked God for His intervention with the weather, because if I couldn't drop off my passengers I'd have to turn around and leave all those needing help stranded in their villages. Tomorrow might be too late for some. Just then I broke out of the rain over Awarauka. Rain continued to fall all around, but not over the strip. "Thank you," I prayed as I circled to land.
After landing I learned that the sick baby was being transported from Aripichi, a village upriver one and a half hours away. "They will be here sometime close to an hour from now," I was told.
Looking at my watch I knew I couldn't wait. "I'll stop in on my way back," I promised.
"But the baby is so sick," they protested.
"Yes, I understand, and I will do my best to stop in again, unless the weather doesn't permit." I couldn't wait because then I'd not have time to pick up the other patients in Karum and Kamarata.
I took off for Karum. I flew in heavy rain all the way. I looked through the breaks in the clouds toward Weneweneken, and just as Celso had told me, the clouds were clear to the ground with pouring rain. As I neared Karum I was still flying in the clouds with rain. "God, would you please stop the rain long enough for me to land?" I asked. "I don't mind taking off in the rain, but I don't want to land with it pouring rain." Three minutes before I got there I broke out of the clouds into a clearing and could see rays of sun shining through the clouds. It wasn't raining!
"Oh thank you God," my heart spoke to the One who cares so much for His children that He will stop the rain so I can do my part to help them. As soon as I landed it began raining again, but not hard. I quickly exchanged passengers, loading the patient into the airplane. I figured it would pour rain any minute and wanted to be up in the air before that happened. As soon as I was in the air the plane was enveloped in clouds and heavy rain pounded down as I flew toward Awarauka. The closer I got the harder it seemed to rain. If it was still raining when I got there I'd just have to go on, and the sick baby probably would die. Then Celso's voice came over the radio once again. "There are two more patients in Uriman, one with a broken bone and the other very ill."
"And what are the weather conditions being reported there now?" I asked him.
"They say it is still closed in and raining hard," Celso replied. I knew there wasn't time to return for them even if the weather was good, so they would just have to suffer through the night.
Now, just minutes away from Awarauka I still couldn't see a thing outside of the plane—only water everywhere! Even looking straight down I couldn't see the ground, and I was flying fairly low. Again I talked about the situation with God. "In two minutes, if I can't see how to land, I will fly on, which means one of Your little ones probably won't live." My heart felt sad, but there was absolutely no way I could land on such a short strip with all that water pouring from the skies. Even if the strip was longer I still couldn't.
Then, incredible as it may sound, I broke out of the clouds into a bubble of clear area right over the village. No rain! I was able to land with good visibility, load the mother and baby in, and just as I was ready to take off it started raining again. Such weather makes taking off difficult, but at least the plane is leaving the ground, not trying to gently meet it with very little visibility.
I asked our radio operator again what the weather was like in Kamarata, as the poor pregnant woman was in desperate need and had been waiting all day for the airplane. "It's still clear over the valley," Celso told me. I'm so thankful for a good radio operator to find out what the weather is like along my route. It is such a big help!
I informed Celso that my chances of getting into that valley were less than 50 percent, but I'd give it a try. I couldn't fly to Kamarata on instruments due to the mountains along my flight path and those surrounding the valley. I would have to be able to see the ground, and at present it wasn't looking too good. There are two ways I could reach Kamarata, one being up through a small valley until I pass a big mountain on the left, then turning left I could climb, as the ground would be rising up until I got past the next mountain on the right. Then I would be on a big, flat plateau until I reached where it dipped into the valley once more. The other way was flying down to Uriman and then taking a straight shot up over the ridge and down into the valley.
Since the weather at Uriman was still really bad I decided to head for the slot through the mountains. It was socked in all around, but right at the edge where I needed to go there was an open space. I didn't want to get stuck and have to go up to the high altitude of 10,500 feet to clear the mountains because of the ill baby. He was having difficulty breathing as was. I carefully worked my way along the next ridge, then started climbing and found the clouds lifted along the way just enough for me to slip under them. Thus I had just enough clear space all the way until I reached the plateau. Now all I need is to find a hole to drop through into the valley, I thought. I was certain there would be one, because God would not have brought me this far without continuing to open a way to fly into the valley where Kamarata was. Sure enough, just as I came to the edge of the valley, there was a hole and I was able to enter the valley and land.
Once I was on the ground I looked to see what time it was. I needed to get back in the air quickly in order to have time to get back home before dark. With this patient the plane was full and I left for Santa Elena. I had to work my way along the mountain, drop into another valley, and then follow a little river which guided me away from the mountains until I reached the next valley. Next I turned east and stayed close to the ridge until I crossed the next river. From there it was a straight shot on in. About 10 minutes from the base I left the rain behind and started my descent.
I started my pre-landing check—gas, landing gear, brakes. Whoops! As I started putting a little pressure on the brakes I felt the left peddle give. Something was broken; now what did I lose? Did I still have rudder control? I felt again, and yes, I did. However, there was no brake on the left side. I broke off my approach and started a big circle over the base. I saw the ambulance waiting to take the patients to the hospital in Santa Elena. Pulling out my little flashlight, I looked under the dash. Yep, the brake linkage was broken. I figured that since I still had good rudder control I could land fine. With the water running off the strip and the soggy grass and mud, brakes wouldn't help me much anyway. Once again I started my approach and soon splashed down in the water and mud, moving the airplane from side to side a bit to help slow me down. I was able to stop, using only a large half of our nice long 1,500 foot strip.
I'd flown 5.5 hours, through rain, with 9 landings on short, muddy strips with streams of water running off them. I'd transported 6 people back home, now well and strong, and brought 4 patients to the hospital for help. So what is different about this day? Nothing really, except for the brake situation. Every day I fly is much like this one I've described to you. There are lots of days when I just can't get to everyone needing help. The people who have to wait, like those I left in Uriman this Friday, until the following day when I can fly again.
Friends, it isn't who we are nor what we have that matters, but what we do for others that has lasting value. Thank you for your prayers and continued support as together we make a difference in this area of Venezuela.
Merry Christmas!
Bob & Neiba Norton
P.S. If you would like to see some short video clips of the AMA plane landing and taking off from some of the challenging airstrips, click here, or you may also go to www.YouTube.com and type in the video search box: enorton25.
My Day Off and A Big Scare
Everyone needs a day off once in a while just to relax, breathe in and out, and try to keep some kind of sanity. Well, I had one planned, the first day I'd taken off in months, and was really looking forward to Sunday. I'd been invited to the Motocross Race—not to race, but to take part in some of the events and they'd asked me to fly my parasail. This was going to be a nice break from my daily work and lots of fun!
When Sunday morning came I had one flight to Parqupi to take out a medical team and deliver some medicines. I'd still be back in plenty of time for the races. Unfortunately the med team was late coming to the plane, which put me behind an hour. I figured I'd still be there in good time and enjoy my day off.
I was nearly home after making the flight when a call came in for help. A young man in the village of Wonken had a broken arm. I couldn't just leave him suffering, so headed out again thinking, if all goes well I'll just be gone another hour and fifteen minutes.
When I lit at Wonken the patient wasn't at the strip so I had to wait and wait. Finally he arrived, but as I was helping him into the airplane he told me, "I didn't get the reference paper." (Each village that has a nurse, or someone serving in some medical capacity, writes a paper with a diagnosis, treatment they have given, and information for the doctor.) So I waited some more while someone went after this paper. Fifteen minutes later they returned with the paper and I took off for our home base instead of taking him directly to Santa Elena. No, it wasn't to save time, but because all the emergency vehicles were at the races so no one would be available to provide transportation for this man.
I planned to drop him off at the hospital on my way to the races.
After settling the airplane in the hanger for a nap I headed to the house to get our pickup. Jumping in I jammed the key in and turned. Click, click it went. Oh no! Not now, I mumbled to myself. I tried again to start the truck, but to no avail. That starter had started for the last time. I did have another one, so went after it and rolled under the pickup to change it out. By now it was raining and water began running under the truck. It dripped all over me, even though I was underneath the vehicle. It didn't take too long to complete the change, and this time when I turned the key it started right up.
I hurried inside to change out of my wet clothes, and then drove into town where I dropped the patient off at the hospital. Now, finally, I was off to the races. It was now late afternoon and they were just about over. However, I did get to see one race. I guess one is better than none! It was way too late in the day to fly parasail, or to do any of the other things those in charge had asked of me. I just stood watching this one race with the other spectators, and then left for home because it was threatening a heavy downpour of rain. So much for a day off!
I am still hoping that someday we can have another pilot and someone to help with ground maintenance so I can REALLY take a FULL day off! After all, it does sound like such a great idea.
A few days back I had a real scary experience. I was in the village of San Miguel de Uriman, a big name for such a little village. The bush strip there is nothing great, like most of the places I fly into. It's about 1,200 feet long, if you count the tall grass at the end and stretch it a bit. When you take off it is uphill, not matter from which end, with the highest part near the middle. There are trees on one end and a hill with trees on the other. It's one of those strips where there is just no good way either in or out. Except for these things it is a great little strip, or would be if the grass was cut short so it wouldn't cause drag during take off. Because the wind is more favorable I usually take off toward the trees. Also the climb up the hump mid-strip is less steep from that direction, so it's easier to get airborne.
This day the emergency flight was for a pregnant woman who'd taken a bad fall and her baby was in trouble. I had her husband sit in the back seat with her. Starting the airplane I "taxied" through the tall grass, up over the hill and down the other side to the end of the strip. I checked the winds, and conditions looked great, but I had a feeling I needed just a bit more strip, so went further into the waist-high grass before turning around to take off.
I had a good run getting going and the air speed was just coming alive as I got to the top of the hill. In that instant my mind shouted, OH NO, HELP!! There on the strip was a flock of kids—humans, not goats. They were running down the strip trying to outrun the airplane. None were getting off to the sides and I didn't have room to stop. If I tried to stop I would certainly run over all of them and hit the trees at the other end.
I got more flaps coming down, although painfully slow. I glanced out to see if they were even moving. My plan was to jump over the children and then figure out how to get over the trees. I had to act now since the slower kids continued running down the strip straight in front of me. From the time I spotted them until I had to jump over them was less than a second, and at that moment I wished for manual flaps.
Just before I hit those behind I pulled hard on the yoke while talking to the bird to convince it that it could fly. It did, and I just barely missed them. It was so close—you don't even want to know.
Now for the trees! I pushed hard on the yoke, pushing the nose back down since the strip drops downward towards the trees. I had only 40 mph air speed and lots of flaps hanging out. I needed some speed to fly. I quickly brought the flaps up just a bit as I dropped back towards the ground again, muttering to the bird, "You can fly at this speed. Come on, fly." I got 45 mph out of it and held the nose up again. Up and over the trees we flew and then down over the river and I was flying!
I've never had any problem previously with the village people getting on the strip. I have had a few "well educated" people from up north who thought it would make a great picture to stand right in the middle of the strip and film the airplane landing or taking off, but never any natives. I told Celco, our radio operator, about my experience. He talked to the villagers in Uriman as well as the Captain over all that area, repeating my words. "If anyone ever gets on the strip again during a landing or take off I will never fly into that village again."
My message was taken seriously. The next time I landed, taking patients back home, I spotted faces in the bushes at the far end of the strip, but not one child came out onto the strip, not even after I had stopped and shut off the engine. I thank God for helping me that day so no one was hurt. There isn't much which scares me, but that experience shook me up for days. I would have run over a dozen children! By the way, I would have taken a picture of all the children running in front of me if I'd thought to pick up my camera, but I didn't. Ha! (Like there was time . . . .)
Thank you for your continued prayers for our protection and God's guidance. Right now I'm in Cuidad Bolivar working on insurance papers for the plane, so maybe pray that can be accomplished shortly.
God bless,
Bob & Neiba Norton