Participants:
Series Code: OTG
Program Code: OTG000012
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00:01 Alaska, America's last frontier
00:04 The land of vast beauty and endless miles of open wilderness 00:08 Airplanes are the life blood of Alaska. 00:12 Only aviation can connect communities, 00:14 where there are no roads with violent weather 00:17 and extreme terrains make this 00:20 the most dangerous skies in America. 00:23 Adventist World Aviation has two outpost positioned 00:27 in north and south Alaska. Hauling critical supplies, 00:30 rescue personnel, and the Gospel message to remote villages 00:35 all across the Alaskan region 00:38 Without aviation these Alaskan villages would be unreachable. 00:44 This is Adventist World Aviation OFF THE GRID 00:49 We begin our day at the AWA Dillingham hanger, where pilot 00:54 Wendell Downs begins his preparation for a very busy day. 00:57 Wendell lives here in Dillingham where he manages the 01:01 AWA mission outpost nestled in southern Alaska. 01:05 With him is the AWA president, Ric Swaningson 01:09 who is visiting for a short time. 01:11 Together, they begin to prep the airplane and do a preflight 01:16 inspection before they begin their day. 01:18 We are getting ready to take a flight today. 01:21 Wendell is our pilot up here for Adventist World Aviation 01:25 aircraft. He is doing what we call preflight inspection. 01:29 We want to make sure that the entire aircraft is airworthy 01:32 of course before we take it up in the air. The reason being 01:36 there is no cloud to pull over in the sky like a gas station, 01:39 so we do a complete walk around, it's a complete 360 degrees 01:43 around the plane. We're going to check all the control surfaces. 01:46 We're going to check the engine components. 01:47 We're going to check a variety of different things that... 01:51 Like air pressure in the tires and those type of things 01:54 We'll look at that, we can see if the tires have enough 01:57 air pressure in them. 01:58 So usually a pilot will have his own procedure of where he starts 02:05 Wendell started with the fuel tanks and then he'll begin 02:09 his 360 degree walk around from there. 02:11 This is pastor Wendell Downs, he is our pilot 02:14 for Adventist World Aviation up here in Dillingham Alaska. 02:17 I am going to insert the ignition key and leave it 02:20 turned off. I'll start with flaps coming down. 02:24 We do that just to make sure that everything works 02:27 when you get out there. You can put the flops down, you want to 02:29 make sure that they'll operate both directions safely. 02:32 Now we are draining any residual water or dirt, or anything 02:38 that might have caught at the bottom of the fuel thank. 02:41 We want to make sure that that is all gone. 02:44 Nothing, hah, nothing. It's just we what we want to see 02:46 We like nothing. Let's check the oil to make sure 02:49 we have sufficient oil for our flight. 02:53 So what Wendell is doing right now of course is just like a car 02:55 It has oil and oddly enough you would think that the oil's 02:59 primary purpose is for the lubrication of the aircraft, 03:02 but the oil actually serves more as a coolant component 03:05 than it does lubrication. Of course it has it's lubrication 03:08 components, but we want to make sure, that like your car it has 03:12 plenty, sufficient oil. This particular aircraft the level 03:16 of oil is 8 quarts - maximum. So we want to make sure that the 03:22 level of oil is between, I don't know what this thing is 03:25 between 6 to 8 quarts of oil. So the oil is good. 03:30 Yes we are good there and its fresh and clean. 03:33 Good deal. 03:34 Now we do a real quick run over. Now we have a few nicks in our 03:40 prop today, so we are going to actually get a trusty letterman 03:44 and this is something that every Alaskan needs to have. 03:47 It has a file, it actually works pretty good, it's not ideal, 03:53 but it's really pretty nice to have. 03:57 Now what Wendell is doing here is, he is filing 04:00 the edge of the prop. It's called the leading edge. 04:03 The reason, the importance of doing that is, number one 04:06 we want to make sure that the prop's leading edge is nice and 04:09 smooth, but the primary reason is the stress on it 04:13 Stress can cause a fracture in the propeller 04:16 All Bush Alaska airports have gravel. Every time you start up 04:22 particularly if there is a breeze blowing, 04:24 if you start up in the wrong direction, you can pick up rocks 04:28 suck them right through the prop and it makes little chips 04:31 some bigger than others. So we have to file these out. 04:35 We have to check it on every flight, just to make sure 04:37 that I don't have a big rock nick. 04:38 OK, we are happy with the smoothness of the propeller. 04:41 We checked to make sure that the bolts, everything is all tight. 04:45 On the nose gear, which it is we have a cowl flap 04:53 opens or closes when we need it to. 04:55 Tell me about this thing sticking out here 04:58 This is our muffler, actually there is a muffler inside, 05:01 this is the exhaust out here. 05:03 It's important that it's attached 05:06 I don't know why Cessna points it forward, but I think 05:09 their idea is that the gas shoots out here, 05:11 hits the airstreams and goes underneath 05:13 and stays away from the airplane more. 05:15 Very good. 05:16 OK we have another drain that we look for fuel, 05:22 water actually in the fuel. 05:24 It is important that they check so that no water 05:28 is mixed with the fuel. If there is water in the fuel tank, 05:31 the water will be collected right there. 05:35 Tell me about this device here. 05:42 We have a device on the dash that actually reads out 05:47 what the temperature is. 05:48 Now is it important to know what the temperature is outside? 05:50 All we care it's cold out, it is cold. 05:52 The time that it would be particularly important is 05:54 if you were flying on instruments, in the clouds, 05:58 with moisture. 06:00 OK. If it is right in the freezing rain... 06:03 So we want to know, if it's near freezing. 06:05 You could be having ice developing here, 06:08 so it's good to know. 06:09 OK, good, great, OK 06:11 Let's continue our walk around. 06:12 We also check to make sure the brakes are on haven't fallen off 06:19 Continue on around... 06:24 We look at the hinges, and make sure that everything is attached 06:30 Same with the rudder, very good, make sure it is attached, 06:34 no dents, no dings. Very good. 06:37 The tires that we have on this airplane are not the standard 06:41 tires that normally would appear on an airplane 06:43 They do look a little bigger. 06:44 They are bigger. The nose wheel tire is a very big tire 06:49 for this size of aircraft. As well as the main gear. 06:53 And this is setup especially so that it can land out 06:57 on the sand beaches that we have around here. 07:00 On both sides of this we have long strips of sand beaches 07:03 Fisherman live out there in the summer time, 07:07 So we have actually taken this out there and landed 07:10 on these beaches and these tires will float through that sand. 07:13 These are SUV tires, that would be... It slows the airplane down 07:17 in flight to some degree, but the trade off is that we can go 07:22 a lot of places and land lot of places that normally 07:24 we would not be able to safely. 07:26 Before any take off, every portion of the plane must be 07:29 thoroughly inspected, tested and reviewed. 07:32 There is no margin for error here. If there is anything wrong 07:38 with the plane, it needs to be caught and fixed 07:40 during this inspection. These preflight procedures 07:44 are a life saving procedure. Both the exterior of the plane, 07:48 as well as the interior control panel are examined. 07:59 After the full inspection of the plane, it seems that 08:02 she is air worthy and they can take flight. 08:05 Aviation is crucial here in rural Alaska. There are no 08:09 roadways connecting villages or no infrastructure 08:13 for ground travel. 08:14 Villages are completely isolated therefore it's imperative that 08:19 they have aviation to sustain themselves. 08:23 The agenda for today is 2 fold. First, Wendell must deliver 08:28 supplies to a village near by, Manokotak. It's only a 15 minute 08:33 flight, yet, aviation is the only way to reach this village. 08:37 All supplies, fuel, and food must be flown into Manokotak. 08:43 Wendell is going to deliver a special emergency package 08:47 to the village police officer, Edward. 08:50 I'd like to welcome you to our flight. Our itinerary today 08:56 calls for us to go to first to the village of Manokotak 09:00 about 10 miles west of here. From there we continue on 09:05 to the village of Togiak, about 65 air miles south west of here 09:11 So that's were we are planning to go today, 09:14 it looks like we are going to have a good flight all the way. 09:16 Good weather, we may have a little bit of turbulence 09:21 Looks like we have some upper winds 09:24 that we will be dealing with. 09:25 But other than that we should have a really good flight. 09:29 Before they left, Wendell checked the weather for today. 09:34 Alaskan weather can be very brutal and change for the worse 09:37 within just a matter of minutes. Alaskan weather can be some of 09:42 the most dangerous to fly in. So it is always essential to keep 09:46 a close eye on the weather conditions 09:48 before making any flight. Right before each flight, 09:52 pilots can listen in to the local weather conditions 09:56 of their origin and their destination. 10:00 Since the weather in Alaska can change so frequently, 10:04 its good practice to check one last time 10:06 before they take flight. 10:17 Wendell heads down the runway and lifts off into the sky. 10:31 Aviation actually serves the same function as 10:36 the general highways, roads all around the rest of the world 10:41 It connects everything together. There are no connecting roads 10:48 between any of the villages, or between any of the main hub 10:52 centers. The only way out here is by airplane. 10:56 The journey to Manokotak is a very quick one. 10:59 Within 15 minutes they are approaching the gravel runway. 11:02 Wendell must make sure to keep the nose of the plane up when he 11:07 lands in order to ovoid picking up rocks and nicking 11:10 the propeller with gravel from the runway. 11:14 It's a procedure he has come well accustomed to however, 11:19 and he lands with ease and agility. 11:24 As soon as he lands, Wendell finds his friend Edward waiting 11:28 at the side of the runway. Edward and his wife Rhonda 11:32 are the only Adventist couple that live in this village 11:35 of 450 people in Manokotak. Pastor Wendell has been working 11:39 closely with Edward in hopes to change 11:42 the statistics of this village. 11:44 Without much time to waist, Wendell and Edward 11:47 make their exchange. Edward is given some much needed 11:50 supplies that he cannot get in Manokotak. 11:53 Since Pastor Wendell was making a flight today, he was gracious 11:58 enough to make the drop for Edward. 12:01 OK, I think I am going to go ahead and give a phone call 12:05 over to Togiak and let them know that we'll be on our next leg 12:10 here coming up. Hello, Chad, hey we are ready to 12:16 get in the air here, we should be over your way, probably 12:19 in about 40 minutes, or so. Good, ok, we'll see you. 12:25 Communication is very important in this part of the country. 12:28 Often plans change due to weather, or other unforeseeable 12:33 circumstances. 12:34 ...traffic, Cessna 135 to Victors taxiing for departure 12:38 we'll be back taxiing for runway 3 departure, west bound. 12:42 Once again, it's time to take to the skies. 12:45 They have a full day awaiting them. Thankfully, they have 12:48 wonderful, clear weather for today's flight. 12:51 The visibility is exceptionally good and the panorama around 12:56 them is breathtaking as they fly through the mountain pass. 12:59 As they fly over this open tundra, there are no roads, 13:04 no form infrastructure, no human footprints are visible. 13:07 Just endless miles of frozen wilderness. 13:11 It's on long open flights like these that Wendell is reminded 13:16 just how important his mission is. 13:19 Aircraft have always been a major tool in Alaska 13:24 and probably for several reasons One is that Alaska is an immense 13:28 area, I don't know the exact lengths from end to end, 13:34 piece to piece, but if you lay.. spread out Alaska all across 13:39 the rest of the United States. They say that from the tip of 13:45 south clear out to Alusha chain which is still part of Alaska. 13:51 It would stretch pretty much across the whole continent 13:53 of the United States. Usually when they have a map, it shows 13:58 They usually cut the scale down. After what the 14:03 rest of the scale is for the rest of the map. 14:06 So you don't notice how big it is really, so distance is 14:10 probably one major reason why aircraft is better than 14:14 another is, that there are many many areas that are not 14:20 reachable, except by aircraft, summer or winter 14:23 probably those two reasons accessibility is a real problem. 14:29 Otherwise we would not have the aircraft. Everybody flies. 14:35 I mean, just everybody flies, it's just the way it is. 14:37 You can just count on it, if you want to go anywhere. 14:41 As they reach the coastline, Togiak comes into view. 14:45 Togiak is located at the head of Togiak Bay, 14:49 67 miles west of Dillingham. 14:52 The residences of Togiak consist of 165 families 14:57 with 900 Native Americans. 15:00 Togiak is located in a climatic transition zone, 15:03 making the weather very turbulent and dangerous. 15:07 Soon enough, the run way comes into view. Fortunately they've 15:12 been blessed with good weather and there was no turbulence 15:15 during this flight. Even with the breeze coming off the bay, 15:19 Wendell has no problems landing the plane. 15:22 They have been blessed with a safe trip today 15:25 without any obstacles or weather disruptions. 15:27 Wendell lands the plane smoothly and looks around 15:31 for a place to park. 15:32 We're on the ground at Togiak, over 15:38 Because Togiak is a fishing village, this runway 15:41 is a busy strip lined with many fish scouting planes. 15:46 As Wendell looks around, he sees a reminder of 15:49 what harsh Alaskan weather is capable of doing to aircraft. 15:53 Storms are never to be underestimated 15:56 and bad weather is to be taken very seriously up here. 15:59 Winds off the bay are unpredictable and powerful. 16:04 The best safe guard is to keep a close eye and continually 16:09 rechecking weather reports. 16:11 Wendell looks around, but he does not see Chad anywhere. 16:15 So he unpacks his care package, and begins walking into town. 16:20 Togiak is not a large town, and visitors 16:24 are always easily spotted. 16:26 So within a few minutes, Chad spots Pastor Wendell. 16:30 He is very excited to see him and welcomes him into 16:33 the parsonage for a warm cup of tea. The two spend some time 16:39 talking with each other and exchanging 16:41 words of encouragement. 16:43 Chad also shows Wendell his new satellite installation. 16:47 He and his wife Liz are just so overjoyed, they now have 16:52 Christian programming to watch and share 16:54 with their church congregation. 16:57 Chad and Liz are very happy with their mission outpost. 17:01 Although it's very different from what they are 17:03 accustomed to, they feel a true calling to be there. 17:08 Despite the fact that they are so isolated, and miss 17:12 their families very much, they hold firm to their calling 17:15 and do the work that God has called them to do. 17:18 Is it easy to get from a place like Dillingham that is only 17:22 65 miles from here? What do you have to go through to get here? 17:27 Or you can swim..., no I am just kidding 17:29 You have to fly and it's about a 90 nautical miles I believe 17:36 And cannot drive. It's not connected any way shape 17:40 or form to Dillingham and Dillingham same way to Anchorage 17:44 Adventist World Aviation has been a huge part of this, 17:47 because that's how Liz and I get from Dillingham to Togiak 17:52 It's very expensive to fly and I love the fact that we have 17:58 an organization like Adventist World Aviation, because it helps 18:02 people like Liz and I to minister here in Togiak. 18:07 Pastor Wendell Dows here is pretty much our pilot 18:10 who flies us to and fro, here and back to Dillingham. 18:15 It's been a huge fundamental block to ministering 18:20 to the natives here. 18:21 In the culture we have a lot of superstition about spiritualism. 18:28 After growing up with a big background knowing 18:33 what I believe to be truth, the Bible, and that's pretty much 18:39 my opinion what Adventist theology is primarily the Bible. 18:42 We get from the word of God. We have a lot of books that 18:46 point to the Bible, but after getting to know that, 18:49 I wanted them to know, that Jesus was the way. 18:52 that you don't have to feel guilty about who you are. 18:56 or your past, because here a lot of natives experience sexual 19:01 abuse, they experience alcohol abuse. They experience a lot of 19:06 neglect. They experience a lot of that and my passion is 19:09 You don't have to hold unto that for the rest of your life. 19:12 You don't have to remember that that's where you came from, 19:16 because the whole purpose of being a Christian is not 19:19 where you been, but it's were you choose to go. 19:21 Thad's primarily to Heaven, with our Savior one day. 19:27 I would not be able to do ministry, to the fullest 19:32 capacity without Adventist World Aviation here. No. 19:35 It's a very big fundamental block, that we depend upon. 19:40 We are very thankful that we have support like this 19:44 to make it work. 19:45 I mean that's the biggest thing is to show Jesus Christ here. 19:49 People who understand the native culture is huge. 19:51 And even though I wasn't raised in a native culture like Togiak, 19:59 It's imperative to be familiar with what they respect, 20:04 how they think, so that you can minister to them at a peak level 20:10 All they really need, like any other native village is healing. 20:15 It's not trying to drill the health message into them. 20:18 It's not trying to drill... this is how Christian life should be. 20:22 They need healing first, before they fall in Love. 20:24 And they say Adventist World Aviation we have that chance 20:28 to be here and to minister here and share the love of Christ. 20:34 That's what it is all about. 20:42 Pastor Wendell's visit today was twofold. 20:45 He enjoys fellowshipping with Chad, but he also heard that 20:49 the church building and the church vehicles 20:51 needed some maintenance. 20:53 OK, let's go do that. Write those down, I'll get those and 20:56 We can get you a delivery one of these days 20:58 Sounds good! 21:03 He bought a few parts with him from Dillingham, 21:05 and his goal is to help Chad make these repairs. 21:09 Parts for maintenance are nonexistent in Togiak, 21:13 so everything that Chad and Liz needs, must be flown in. 21:18 Wendell works with Chad on the van. 21:21 There are a few major issues that need to be addressed 21:24 in order to get this van up and running again. 21:26 The winter cold and brutal weather are very taxing 21:31 on vehicles, so they need regular maintenance and repairs. 21:35 Here is our Togiak logo, for the Seventh-day Adventist Church 21:40 And here is our number that people will call. 21:45 This is our van, that we get to use. The problem with this van 21:48 is the radiator and the wheel. I am trying to get a hold of an 21:52 air compressor, to pump that up and at least move it to where 21:56 I can get the wheel changed. We actually have a tire for it. 22:00 Which we needed changed out. As you can see there are studs 22:04 on here, changed to winter tires anyways to make it lot better 22:10 for summer time. 22:11 As far as we were going to look at today... it's been loosing 22:16 antifreeze. We don't know if a water pump has gone bad. 22:21 Or if it is a crack in a hose or what not. 22:23 We try to find that out. 22:33 Chad and Wendell spend some time and diagnose the issues and use 22:38 the supplies Wendell brought with him 22:40 to do the repairs necessary. 22:46 The church van in Togiak is used to pick up people for the church 22:49 services. In the winter, few people dare to brave the frigid 22:53 weather, so Chad volunteers to jump in the van and taxi 22:58 everyone within the town's road system to church. 23:02 So Chad, some people probably wonder why do we have cars in 23:07 the village of this size here How far is it to where some 23:13 of your members live here? Often ask that question. 23:15 Here we have members scattered all through out Togiak. 23:18 And you can see, before when you guys landed, there is a 23:23 totally separate part of the village called New Togiak. 23:27 That's probably about somewhere between a half a mile 23:30 up the road. We have members up there, who need to be picked up 23:34 they don't have transportation and actually to get from this 23:37 spot here, you actually have to go into town, go across 23:42 the flats and back, so actually the total distance is going 23:45 So that's going to be like 3 miles round trip. 23:47 3 miles roughly, yes 23:48 so that's more than what lot of people want to walk. 23:50 Exactly, especially every Saturday 23:52 In the winter time, when it gets 23:55 about 10 below, the snow is blowing. With wind-chill factor 23:59 you're looking at anywhere from 15 to 20 below, wind is blowing, 24:05 and even going on the snow machine, it's kind of brutal. 24:08 What happens during the winter time, see there is a lot of tape 24:12 right here, because these windows actually are not sealed 24:15 to the bed itself, so what happens is, when the moisture 24:18 seeps into the cracks, moisture gets inside the seat cushions 24:21 and it freezes the seat cushions So that's why we don't like to 24:25 drive this thing in the winter time, because the members 24:27 will get cold bottom. 24:29 Liz and Chad love the youth in this village. They flock to the 24:33 young missionary couple's home during the week 24:35 as well as on Sabbath. 25:00 Many of the kids come over to the parsonage after school 25:03 just to get some one on one time with the missionary couple. 25:07 Chad and Liz have a heart and genuine love for these kids, 25:11 and it shows in their interactions together. 25:38 Can you tell your names? This is Lucy, She actually, 25:42 she is kind of shy, but when she gets in there, she is really 25:46 loud...This is Derrick, he comes in there to a lot and he likes 25:51 to run around and he has caused a little bit of mischief, 25:53 but we love them and... Today's visit to Togiak 25:57 has come to an end. 25:58 Adventist World Aviation is going to be transporting Liz 26:02 back to Dillingham. She has some family obligations 26:06 so she must now leave Togiak for a few days. 26:09 She packs her bags and prepares for her journey. 26:13 She is so thankful to be able to travel with Pastor Wendell today 26:18 If it were not for this flight, she might not be able to leave 26:21 and unite with her family. 26:22 Chad says a heartwarming farewell to his wife 26:25 and Pastor Wendell. 26:27 Both he and Liz are so grateful for the blessing 26:30 of this flight today. 26:32 Chad had a great visit and was able to do some much needed work 26:36 on the parsonage. Liz is overjoyed that she has 26:39 the opportunity to reunite with her family. 26:42 AWA works with Chad and Liz to provide them with air support 26:47 and transportation. 26:54 It's difficult to live in such an isolated condition 26:57 AWA's mission is to help spread the gospel. 27:01 By providing supplies, and transportation, AWA is able to 27:06 aid Chad and Liz in carrying on their great work here in Togiak. 27:11 Chad and Liz have a great passion and love for the people 27:14 living here in Togiak. 27:16 They are fully committed to minister to the place 27:19 God has called them. 27:20 Despite the fact that they are newlyweds and younger than 27:25 most people in this village, their ministry is blossoming. 27:29 It might not be an easy life here for Chad and Liz, but 27:32 they are happy and faithfully living out their mission. 27:36 AWA is always very happy to assist wherever needed. 27:40 Today's mission was fulfilled by delivering supplies, bringing 27:46 encouragement, and providing air support missionaries. 27:49 The vast open lands of Alaska can be a difficult place to do 27:54 ministry, because of its sheer size and lack of ground 27:58 transportation options. 27:59 However, with the gift of aviation, some of the burden 28:04 can be lifted and the gospel message can be continued to move 28:10 forward to reach all of Alaska. 28:20 What you have been watching is areas that 28:24 Adventist World Aviation goes into. We go into areas that 28:29 you can't reach by conventional means, whether it's in Guyana 28:32 whether it's in Alaska, whether it's in the Philippines. 28:34 We go into areas that can't be reached. 28:38 We reach the unreachable. 28:40 The average person doesn't recognize that there are 28:43 2 billion people in this world 28:46 that have never heard of Jesus Christ. 28:48 Of those 2 billion people 800 million of them can only be 28:52 reached by means like aviation. We are able to reach people that 28:56 would normally, under normal circumstances just not be able 28:59 to be reached. And as a result we are able to share 29:02 the love of Jesus Christ. 29:03 Pray for us! We need your prayers more than anything else. 29:06 For more information contact your local station. 29:09 Thanks for watching! 29:10 Ask about Adventist World Aviation! |
Revised 2014-12-17