Alaska, America's last frontier
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The land of vast beauty and
endless miles of open wilderness
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Airplanes are the
life blood of Alaska.
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Only aviation can
connect communities,
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where there are no
roads with violent weather
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and extreme terrains make this
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the most
dangerous skies in America.
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Adventist World Aviation
has two outpost positioned
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in north and south Alaska.
Hauling critical supplies,
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rescue personnel, and the Gospel
message to remote villages
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all across the Alaskan region
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Without aviation these Alaskan
villages would be unreachable.
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This is Adventist
World Aviation OFF THE GRID
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We begin our day at the AWA
Dillingham hanger, where pilot
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Wendell Downs begins his
preparation for a very busy day.
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Wendell lives here in
Dillingham where he manages the
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AWA mission outpost
nestled in southern Alaska.
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With him is the AWA
president, Ric Swaningson
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who is visiting
for a short time.
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Together, they begin to prep
the airplane and do a preflight
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inspection before
they begin their day.
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We are getting ready
to take a flight today.
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Wendell is our pilot up here
for Adventist World Aviation
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aircraft. He is doing what
we call preflight inspection.
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We want to make sure that
the entire aircraft is airworthy
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of course before we take it
up in the air. The reason being
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there is no cloud to pull over
in the sky like a gas station,
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so we do a complete walk around,
it's a complete 360 degrees
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around the plane. We're going to
check all the control surfaces.
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We're going to check
the engine components.
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We're going to check a variety
of different things that...
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Like air pressure in the
tires and those type of things
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We'll look at that, we can
see if the tires have enough
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air pressure in them.
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So usually a pilot will have his
own procedure of where he starts
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Wendell started with the
fuel tanks and then he'll begin
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his 360 degree
walk around from there.
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This is pastor
Wendell Downs, he is our pilot
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for Adventist World Aviation
up here in Dillingham Alaska.
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I am going to insert the
ignition key and leave it
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turned off. I'll start
with flaps coming down.
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We do that just to make
sure that everything works
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when you get out there. You can
put the flops down, you want to
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make sure that they'll
operate both directions safely.
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Now we are draining any residual
water or dirt, or anything
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that might have caught at
the bottom of the fuel thank.
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We want to make sure
that that is all gone.
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Nothing, hah, nothing.
It's just we what we want to see
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We like nothing. Let's
check the oil to make sure
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we have sufficient
oil for our flight.
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So what Wendell is doing right
now of course is just like a car
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It has oil and oddly enough
you would think that the oil's
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primary purpose is for the
lubrication of the aircraft,
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but the oil actually serves
more as a coolant component
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than it does lubrication. Of
course it has it's lubrication
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components, but we want to make
sure, that like your car it has
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plenty, sufficient oil. This
particular aircraft the level
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of oil is 8 quarts - maximum.
So we want to make sure that the
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level of oil is between, I
don't know what this thing is
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between 6 to 8 quarts
of oil. So the oil is good.
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Yes we are good there
and its fresh and clean.
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Good deal.
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Now we do a real quick run over.
Now we have a few nicks in our
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prop today, so we are going to
actually get a trusty letterman
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and this is something that
every Alaskan needs to have.
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It has a file, it actually works
pretty good, it's not ideal,
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but it's really
pretty nice to have.
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Now what Wendell is
doing here is, he is filing
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the edge of the prop.
It's called the leading edge.
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The reason, the importance
of doing that is, number one
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we want to make sure that the
prop's leading edge is nice and
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smooth, but the primary
reason is the stress on it
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Stress can cause a
fracture in the propeller
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All Bush Alaska airports have
gravel. Every time you start up
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particularly if
there is a breeze blowing,
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if you start up in the wrong
direction, you can pick up rocks
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suck them right through the
prop and it makes little chips
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some bigger than others.
So we have to file these out.
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We have to check it on
every flight, just to make sure
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that I don't
have a big rock nick.
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OK, we are happy with the
smoothness of the propeller.
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We checked to make sure that the
bolts, everything is all tight.
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On the nose gear, which
it is we have a cowl flap
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opens or closes
when we need it to.
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Tell me about this
thing sticking out here
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This is our muffler, actually
there is a muffler inside,
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this is the exhaust out here.
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It's important
that it's attached
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I don't know why Cessna
points it forward, but I think
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their idea is that
the gas shoots out here,
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hits the
airstreams and goes underneath
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and stays away
from the airplane more.
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Very good.
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OK we have another
drain that we look for fuel,
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water actually in the fuel.
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It is important that
they check so that no water
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is mixed with the fuel. If
there is water in the fuel tank,
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the water will be
collected right there.
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Tell me about this device here.
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We have a device on the
dash that actually reads out
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what the temperature is.
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Now is it important to know
what the temperature is outside?
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All we care it's
cold out, it is cold.
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The time that it would
be particularly important is
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if you were flying on
instruments, in the clouds,
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with moisture.
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OK. If it is right
in the freezing rain...
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So we want to know,
if it's near freezing.
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You could be having
ice developing here,
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so it's good to know.
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OK, good, great, OK
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Let's continue our walk around.
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We also check to make sure the
brakes are on haven't fallen off
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Continue on around...
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We look at the hinges, and make
sure that everything is attached
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Same with the rudder, very
good, make sure it is attached,
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no dents, no dings. Very good.
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The tires that we have on this
airplane are not the standard
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tires that normally
would appear on an airplane
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They do look a little bigger.
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They are bigger. The nose
wheel tire is a very big tire
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for this size of aircraft.
As well as the main gear.
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And this is setup especially
so that it can land out
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on the sand beaches
that we have around here.
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On both sides of this we
have long strips of sand beaches
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Fisherman live out
there in the summer time,
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So we have actually
taken this out there and landed
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on these beaches and these tires
will float through that sand.
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These are SUV tires, that would
be... It slows the airplane down
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in flight to some degree, but
the trade off is that we can go
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a lot of places and land
lot of places that normally
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we would not be able to safely.
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Before any take off, every
portion of the plane must be
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thoroughly
inspected, tested and reviewed.
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There is no margin for error
here. If there is anything wrong
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with the plane, it
needs to be caught and fixed
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during this inspection.
These preflight procedures
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are a life saving procedure.
Both the exterior of the plane,
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as well as the interior
control panel are examined.
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After the full inspection
of the plane, it seems that
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she is air worthy
and they can take flight.
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Aviation is crucial here
in rural Alaska. There are no
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roadways connecting
villages or no infrastructure
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for ground travel.
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Villages are completely isolated
therefore it's imperative that
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they have aviation
to sustain themselves.
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The agenda for today is 2 fold.
First, Wendell must deliver
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supplies to a village near by,
Manokotak. It's only a 15 minute
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flight, yet, aviation is the
only way to reach this village.
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All supplies, fuel, and food
must be flown into Manokotak.
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Wendell is going to deliver
a special emergency package
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to the village
police officer, Edward.
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I'd like to welcome you to
our flight. Our itinerary today
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calls for us to go to first
to the village of Manokotak
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about 10 miles west of
here. From there we continue on
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to the village of Togiak, about
65 air miles south west of here
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So that's were we
are planning to go today,
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it looks like we are going to
have a good flight all the way.
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Good weather, we may have
a little bit of turbulence
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Looks like we
have some upper winds
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that we will be dealing with.
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But other than that we should
have a really good flight.
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Before they left, Wendell
checked the weather for today.
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Alaskan weather can be very
brutal and change for the worse
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within just a matter of minutes.
Alaskan weather can be some of
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the most dangerous to fly in. So
it is always essential to keep
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a close eye on
the weather conditions
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before making any flight.
Right before each flight,
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pilots can listen in to
the local weather conditions
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of their origin
and their destination.
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Since the weather in
Alaska can change so frequently,
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its good practice
to check one last time
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before they take flight.
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Wendell heads down the runway
and lifts off into the sky.
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Aviation actually
serves the same function as
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the general highways, roads
all around the rest of the world
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It connects everything together.
There are no connecting roads
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between any of the villages,
or between any of the main hub
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centers. The only way
out here is by airplane.
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The journey to
Manokotak is a very quick one.
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Within 15 minutes they are
approaching the gravel runway.
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Wendell must make sure to keep
the nose of the plane up when he
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lands in order to ovoid
picking up rocks and nicking
00:11:07.22\00:11:10.91
the propeller with
gravel from the runway.
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It's a procedure he has
come well accustomed to however,
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and he lands
with ease and agility.
00:11:19.77\00:11:22.36
As soon as he lands, Wendell
finds his friend Edward waiting
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at the side of the runway.
Edward and his wife Rhonda
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are the only Adventist
couple that live in this village
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of 450 people in Manokotak.
Pastor Wendell has been working
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closely with
Edward in hopes to change
00:11:39.79\00:11:42.42
the statistics of this village.
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Without much time to
waist, Wendell and Edward
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make their exchange.
Edward is given some much needed
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supplies that he
cannot get in Manokotak.
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Since Pastor Wendell was making
a flight today, he was gracious
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enough to make
the drop for Edward.
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OK, I think I am going to
go ahead and give a phone call
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over to Togiak and let them know
that we'll be on our next leg
00:12:05.42\00:12:10.00
here coming up. Hello,
Chad, hey we are ready to
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get in the air here, we should
be over your way, probably
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in about 40 minutes, or
so. Good, ok, we'll see you.
00:12:19.78\00:12:25.20
Communication is very important
in this part of the country.
00:12:25.23\00:12:28.75
Often plans change due to
weather, or other unforeseeable
00:12:28.78\00:12:33.17
circumstances.
00:12:33.20\00:12:34.38
...traffic, Cessna 135 to
Victors taxiing for departure
00:12:34.41\00:12:38.61
we'll be back taxiing for
runway 3 departure, west bound.
00:12:38.64\00:12:42.02
Once again, it's
time to take to the skies.
00:12:42.67\00:12:45.22
They have a full day awaiting
them. Thankfully, they have
00:12:45.25\00:12:48.91
wonderful, clear
weather for today's flight.
00:12:48.94\00:12:51.83
The visibility is exceptionally
good and the panorama around
00:12:51.86\00:12:56.04
them is breathtaking as they
fly through the mountain pass.
00:12:56.07\00:12:59.41
As they fly over this open
tundra, there are no roads,
00:12:59.44\00:13:04.21
no form infrastructure, no
human footprints are visible.
00:13:04.24\00:13:07.78
Just endless miles
of frozen wilderness.
00:13:07.81\00:13:11.88
It's on long open flights like
these that Wendell is reminded
00:13:11.91\00:13:16.44
just how
important his mission is.
00:13:16.47\00:13:19.29
Aircraft have always
been a major tool in Alaska
00:13:19.32\00:13:23.97
and probably for several reasons
One is that Alaska is an immense
00:13:24.00\00:13:28.61
area, I don't know the
exact lengths from end to end,
00:13:28.64\00:13:34.38
piece to piece, but if you lay..
spread out Alaska all across
00:13:34.41\00:13:39.90
the rest of the United States.
They say that from the tip of
00:13:39.93\00:13:45.16
south clear out to Alusha chain
which is still part of Alaska.
00:13:45.19\00:13:51.14
It would stretch pretty
much across the whole continent
00:13:51.17\00:13:53.53
of the United States. Usually
when they have a map, it shows
00:13:53.56\00:13:58.23
They usually cut the
scale down. After what the
00:13:58.26\00:14:03.38
rest of the scale is
for the rest of the map.
00:14:03.41\00:14:06.66
So you don't notice how big
it is really, so distance is
00:14:06.84\00:14:10.30
probably one major reason
why aircraft is better than
00:14:10.33\00:14:14.55
another is, that there are
many many areas that are not
00:14:14.58\00:14:20.02
reachable, except by
aircraft, summer or winter
00:14:20.05\00:14:23.71
probably those two reasons
accessibility is a real problem.
00:14:23.74\00:14:24.77
Otherwise we would not have
the aircraft. Everybody flies.
00:14:29.49\00:14:35.37
I mean, just everybody
flies, it's just the way it is.
00:14:35.40\00:14:37.71
You can just count on it,
if you want to go anywhere.
00:14:37.74\00:14:40.66
As they reach the coastline,
Togiak comes into view.
00:14:41.36\00:14:45.68
Togiak is located at
the head of Togiak Bay,
00:14:45.71\00:14:49.04
67 miles west of Dillingham.
00:14:49.07\00:14:52.15
The residences of
Togiak consist of 165 families
00:14:52.18\00:14:57.09
with 900 Native Americans.
00:14:57.12\00:15:00.19
Togiak is located in a
climatic transition zone,
00:15:00.22\00:15:03.90
making the weather very
turbulent and dangerous.
00:15:03.93\00:15:07.61
Soon enough, the run way comes
into view. Fortunately they've
00:15:07.65\00:15:12.55
been blessed with good weather
and there was no turbulence
00:15:12.58\00:15:15.65
during this flight. Even with
the breeze coming off the bay,
00:15:15.68\00:15:19.51
Wendell has no
problems landing the plane.
00:15:19.54\00:15:22.69
They have been
blessed with a safe trip today
00:15:22.72\00:15:25.26
without any obstacles
or weather disruptions.
00:15:25.29\00:15:27.87
Wendell lands the plane
smoothly and looks around
00:15:27.90\00:15:31.03
for a place to park.
00:15:31.06\00:15:32.52
We're on the
ground at Togiak, over
00:15:32.55\00:15:38.00
Because Togiak is a
fishing village, this runway
00:15:38.03\00:15:41.48
is a busy strip lined
with many fish scouting planes.
00:15:41.51\00:15:46.13
As Wendell looks
around, he sees a reminder of
00:15:46.16\00:15:49.52
what harsh Alaskan weather
is capable of doing to aircraft.
00:15:49.55\00:15:53.61
Storms are never
to be underestimated
00:15:53.64\00:15:56.51
and bad weather is to be
taken very seriously up here.
00:15:56.54\00:15:59.63
Winds off the bay are
unpredictable and powerful.
00:15:59.66\00:16:04.16
The best safe guard is to
keep a close eye and continually
00:16:04.19\00:16:08.97
rechecking weather reports.
00:16:09.00\00:16:11.11
Wendell looks around, but
he does not see Chad anywhere.
00:16:11.14\00:16:15.31
So he unpacks his care package,
and begins walking into town.
00:16:15.34\00:16:20.11
Togiak is not a
large town, and visitors
00:16:20.14\00:16:24.21
are always easily spotted.
00:16:24.24\00:16:26.05
So within a few minutes,
Chad spots Pastor Wendell.
00:16:26.08\00:16:30.53
He is very excited to
see him and welcomes him into
00:16:30.56\00:16:33.76
the parsonage for a warm cup
of tea. The two spend some time
00:16:33.79\00:16:39.01
talking with each
other and exchanging
00:16:39.04\00:16:41.58
words of encouragement.
00:16:41.61\00:16:43.29
Chad also shows Wendell
his new satellite installation.
00:16:43.32\00:16:47.51
He and his wife Liz are
just so overjoyed, they now have
00:16:47.54\00:16:52.13
Christian
programming to watch and share
00:16:52.16\00:16:54.64
with their church congregation.
00:16:54.67\00:16:57.06
Chad and Liz are very happy
with their mission outpost.
00:16:57.09\00:17:01.02
Although it's very
different from what they are
00:17:01.05\00:17:03.95
accustomed to, they feel
a true calling to be there.
00:17:03.98\00:17:08.00
Despite the fact that
they are so isolated, and miss
00:17:08.03\00:17:12.04
their families very much,
they hold firm to their calling
00:17:12.07\00:17:15.31
and do the work that
God has called them to do.
00:17:15.34\00:17:18.02
Is it easy to get from a place
like Dillingham that is only
00:17:18.05\00:17:22.37
65 miles from here? What do you
have to go through to get here?
00:17:22.40\00:17:26.97
Or you can swim...,
no I am just kidding
00:17:27.00\00:17:29.17
You have to fly and it's about
a 90 nautical miles I believe
00:17:29.20\00:17:36.20
And cannot drive. It's
not connected any way shape
00:17:36.23\00:17:40.18
or form to Dillingham and
Dillingham same way to Anchorage
00:17:40.21\00:17:44.75
Adventist World Aviation
has been a huge part of this,
00:17:44.78\00:17:47.68
because that's how Liz and I
get from Dillingham to Togiak
00:17:47.71\00:17:51.27
It's very expensive to fly
and I love the fact that we have
00:17:52.97\00:17:58.05
an organization like Adventist
World Aviation, because it helps
00:17:58.08\00:18:02.85
people like Liz and I
to minister here in Togiak.
00:18:02.88\00:18:06.97
Pastor Wendell Dows
here is pretty much our pilot
00:18:07.00\00:18:10.62
who flies us to and fro,
here and back to Dillingham.
00:18:10.65\00:18:14.81
It's been a huge
fundamental block to ministering
00:18:15.32\00:18:20.07
to the natives here.
00:18:20.10\00:18:21.25
In the culture we have a lot of
superstition about spiritualism.
00:18:21.28\00:18:27.46
After growing up with
a big background knowing
00:18:28.86\00:18:33.93
what I believe to be truth, the
Bible, and that's pretty much
00:18:33.96\00:18:38.99
my opinion what Adventist
theology is primarily the Bible.
00:18:39.02\00:18:42.50
We get from the word of
God. We have a lot of books that
00:18:42.53\00:18:46.36
point to the Bible, but
after getting to know that,
00:18:46.39\00:18:49.44
I wanted them to know,
that Jesus was the way.
00:18:49.47\00:18:52.61
that you don't have to
feel guilty about who you are.
00:18:52.64\00:18:56.57
or your past, because here a
lot of natives experience sexual
00:18:56.60\00:19:01.73
abuse, they experience alcohol
abuse. They experience a lot of
00:19:01.76\00:19:06.01
neglect. They experience a
lot of that and my passion is
00:19:06.04\00:19:09.95
You don't have to hold unto
that for the rest of your life.
00:19:09.98\00:19:12.68
You don't have to remember
that that's where you came from,
00:19:12.71\00:19:16.59
because the whole purpose
of being a Christian is not
00:19:16.62\00:19:19.03
where you been, but
it's were you choose to go.
00:19:19.06\00:19:21.64
Thad's primarily to
Heaven, with our Savior one day.
00:19:21.67\00:19:27.00
I would not be able to
do ministry, to the fullest
00:19:27.03\00:19:32.94
capacity without Adventist
World Aviation here. No.
00:19:32.97\00:19:35.47
It's a very big fundamental
block, that we depend upon.
00:19:35.50\00:19:40.13
We are very thankful
that we have support like this
00:19:40.16\00:19:44.21
to make it work.
00:19:44.24\00:19:45.41
I mean that's the biggest thing
is to show Jesus Christ here.
00:19:45.44\00:19:49.00
People who understand
the native culture is huge.
00:19:49.03\00:19:51.88
And even though I wasn't raised
in a native culture like Togiak,
00:19:51.91\00:19:59.13
It's imperative to be
familiar with what they respect,
00:19:59.16\00:20:04.58
how they think, so that you can
minister to them at a peak level
00:20:04.61\00:20:10.33
All they really need, like any
other native village is healing.
00:20:10.36\00:20:14.88
It's not trying to drill
the health message into them.
00:20:15.58\00:20:18.91
It's not trying to drill... this
is how Christian life should be.
00:20:18.94\00:20:22.37
They need healing first,
before they fall in Love.
00:20:22.40\00:20:24.75
And they say Adventist World
Aviation we have that chance
00:20:24.78\00:20:28.38
to be here and to minister here
and share the love of Christ.
00:20:28.41\00:20:34.22
That's what it is all about.
00:20:34.25\00:20:35.33
Pastor Wendell's
visit today was twofold.
00:20:42.57\00:20:45.14
He enjoys fellowshipping with
Chad, but he also heard that
00:20:45.17\00:20:49.62
the church building
and the church vehicles
00:20:49.65\00:20:51.78
needed some maintenance.
00:20:51.81\00:20:53.35
OK, let's go do that. Write
those down, I'll get those and
00:20:53.38\00:20:56.54
We can get you a
delivery one of these days
00:20:56.57\00:20:58.85
Sounds good!
00:20:58.88\00:20:59.91
He bought a few parts
with him from Dillingham,
00:21:03.13\00:21:05.48
and his goal is to help
Chad make these repairs.
00:21:05.51\00:21:09.44
Parts for maintenance
are nonexistent in Togiak,
00:21:09.47\00:21:13.36
so everything that Chad and
Liz needs, must be flown in.
00:21:13.39\00:21:17.68
Wendell works
with Chad on the van.
00:21:18.96\00:21:21.95
There are a few major
issues that need to be addressed
00:21:21.98\00:21:24.49
in order to get this
van up and running again.
00:21:24.52\00:21:26.94
The winter cold and
brutal weather are very taxing
00:21:26.97\00:21:31.31
on vehicles, so they need
regular maintenance and repairs.
00:21:31.34\00:21:35.34
Here is our Togiak logo, for
the Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:21:35.64\00:21:40.27
And here is our
number that people will call.
00:21:40.30\00:21:44.29
This is our van, that we get to
use. The problem with this van
00:21:45.12\00:21:48.68
is the radiator and the wheel.
I am trying to get a hold of an
00:21:48.71\00:21:52.61
air compressor, to pump that
up and at least move it to where
00:21:52.64\00:21:56.63
I can get the wheel changed.
We actually have a tire for it.
00:21:56.66\00:22:00.53
Which we needed changed out.
As you can see there are studs
00:22:00.56\00:22:04.63
on here, changed to winter tires
anyways to make it lot better
00:22:04.66\00:22:10.47
for summer time.
00:22:10.50\00:22:11.60
As far as we were going to look
at today... it's been loosing
00:22:11.63\00:22:16.52
antifreeze. We don't know
if a water pump has gone bad.
00:22:16.55\00:22:21.03
Or if it is a crack
in a hose or what not.
00:22:21.06\00:22:23.53
We try to find that out.
00:22:23.56\00:22:25.07
Chad and Wendell spend some time
and diagnose the issues and use
00:22:33.76\00:22:38.21
the supplies
Wendell brought with him
00:22:38.24\00:22:40.74
to do the repairs necessary.
00:22:40.77\00:22:43.16
The church van in Togiak is used
to pick up people for the church
00:22:46.09\00:22:49.87
services. In the winter, few
people dare to brave the frigid
00:22:49.90\00:22:53.66
weather, so Chad volunteers
to jump in the van and taxi
00:22:53.69\00:22:58.18
everyone within the
town's road system to church.
00:22:58.21\00:23:02.26
So Chad, some people probably
wonder why do we have cars in
00:23:02.29\00:23:07.83
the village of this size
here How far is it to where some
00:23:07.86\00:23:13.06
of your members live
here? Often ask that question.
00:23:13.09\00:23:15.36
Here we have members scattered
all through out Togiak.
00:23:15.39\00:23:17.92
And you can see, before
when you guys landed, there is a
00:23:18.14\00:23:23.76
totally separate part of
the village called New Togiak.
00:23:23.79\00:23:27.62
That's probably about
somewhere between a half a mile
00:23:27.65\00:23:30.63
up the road. We have members up
there, who need to be picked up
00:23:30.66\00:23:34.70
they don't have transportation
and actually to get from this
00:23:34.73\00:23:37.92
spot here, you actually
have to go into town, go across
00:23:37.95\00:23:42.00
the flats and back, so actually
the total distance is going
00:23:42.03\00:23:45.75
So that's going to be
like 3 miles round trip.
00:23:45.78\00:23:47.00
3 miles roughly, yes
00:23:47.03\00:23:48.49
so that's more than what
lot of people want to walk.
00:23:48.52\00:23:50.88
Exactly,
especially every Saturday
00:23:50.95\00:23:52.71
In the winter time, when it gets
00:23:52.74\00:23:55.05
about 10 below, the snow is
blowing. With wind-chill factor
00:23:55.39\00:23:59.66
you're looking at anywhere from
15 to 20 below, wind is blowing,
00:23:59.69\00:24:05.40
and even going on the snow
machine, it's kind of brutal.
00:24:05.43\00:24:08.84
What happens during the winter
time, see there is a lot of tape
00:24:08.87\00:24:12.35
right here, because these
windows actually are not sealed
00:24:12.38\00:24:15.18
to the bed itself, so what
happens is, when the moisture
00:24:15.21\00:24:18.39
seeps into the cracks, moisture
gets inside the seat cushions
00:24:18.42\00:24:21.88
and it freezes the seat cushions
So that's why we don't like to
00:24:21.91\00:24:25.37
drive this thing in the
winter time, because the members
00:24:25.40\00:24:27.10
will get cold bottom.
00:24:27.13\00:24:29.43
Liz and Chad love the youth in
this village. They flock to the
00:24:29.46\00:24:33.28
young missionary
couple's home during the week
00:24:33.31\00:24:35.78
as well as on Sabbath.
00:24:35.81\00:24:37.86
Many of the kids come over
to the parsonage after school
00:25:00.23\00:25:03.26
just to get some one on one
time with the missionary couple.
00:25:03.29\00:25:07.36
Chad and Liz have a heart
and genuine love for these kids,
00:25:07.39\00:25:11.65
and it shows in their
interactions together.
00:25:11.68\00:25:15.25
Can you tell your names?
This is Lucy, She actually,
00:25:38.48\00:25:42.62
she is kind of shy, but when
she gets in there, she is really
00:25:42.65\00:25:45.93
loud...This is Derrick, he comes
in there to a lot and he likes
00:25:46.40\00:25:51.17
to run around and he has
caused a little bit of mischief,
00:25:51.21\00:25:53.93
but we love them
and... Today's visit to Togiak
00:25:53.96\00:25:57.61
has come to an end.
00:25:57.64\00:25:58.73
Adventist World Aviation is
going to be transporting Liz
00:25:58.77\00:26:02.57
back to Dillingham. She
has some family obligations
00:26:02.61\00:26:06.55
so she must now leave
Togiak for a few days.
00:26:06.58\00:26:09.42
She packs her bags and
prepares for her journey.
00:26:09.45\00:26:13.16
She is so thankful to be able to
travel with Pastor Wendell today
00:26:13.19\00:26:17.40
If it were not for this flight,
she might not be able to leave
00:26:18.00\00:26:21.27
and unite with her family.
00:26:21.30\00:26:22.70
Chad says a heartwarming
farewell to his wife
00:26:22.73\00:26:25.91
and Pastor Wendell.
00:26:25.94\00:26:27.35
Both he and Liz are so
grateful for the blessing
00:26:27.38\00:26:30.51
of this flight today.
00:26:30.54\00:26:32.08
Chad had a great visit and was
able to do some much needed work
00:26:32.48\00:26:36.08
on the parsonage. Liz
is overjoyed that she has
00:26:36.11\00:26:39.54
the opportunity to
reunite with her family.
00:26:39.57\00:26:42.36
AWA works with Chad and Liz
to provide them with air support
00:26:42.39\00:26:47.03
and transportation.
00:26:47.06\00:26:48.83
It's difficult to live in
such an isolated condition
00:26:54.49\00:26:57.81
AWA's mission is to
help spread the gospel.
00:26:57.84\00:27:01.18
By providing supplies, and
transportation, AWA is able to
00:27:01.21\00:27:06.09
aid Chad and Liz in carrying on
their great work here in Togiak.
00:27:06.12\00:27:10.82
Chad and Liz have a great
passion and love for the people
00:27:11.32\00:27:14.85
living here in Togiak.
00:27:14.88\00:27:16.20
They are fully committed
to minister to the place
00:27:16.23\00:27:19.48
God has called them.
00:27:19.51\00:27:20.95
Despite the fact that they
are newlyweds and younger than
00:27:20.98\00:27:25.29
most people in this village,
their ministry is blossoming.
00:27:25.32\00:27:29.47
It might not be an easy
life here for Chad and Liz, but
00:27:29.50\00:27:32.52
they are happy and faithfully
living out their mission.
00:27:32.55\00:27:36.15
AWA is always very happy
to assist wherever needed.
00:27:36.65\00:27:40.86
Today's mission was fulfilled
by delivering supplies, bringing
00:27:40.89\00:27:45.98
encouragement, and providing
air support missionaries.
00:27:46.01\00:27:49.85
The vast open lands of Alaska
can be a difficult place to do
00:27:49.88\00:27:54.27
ministry, because of its
sheer size and lack of ground
00:27:54.30\00:27:58.20
transportation options.
00:27:58.23\00:27:59.75
However, with the gift of
aviation, some of the burden
00:27:59.78\00:28:04.85
can be lifted and the gospel
message can be continued to move
00:28:04.88\00:28:10.93
forward to reach all of Alaska.
00:28:10.96\00:28:15.16
What you have been
watching is areas that
00:28:20.38\00:28:24.53
Adventist World Aviation
goes into. We go into areas that
00:28:24.56\00:28:29.68
you can't reach by conventional
means, whether it's in Guyana
00:28:29.71\00:28:32.75
whether it's in Alaska,
whether it's in the Philippines.
00:28:32.78\00:28:34.89
We go into areas
that can't be reached.
00:28:34.92\00:28:38.23
We reach the unreachable.
00:28:38.26\00:28:40.51
The average person
doesn't recognize that there are
00:28:40.54\00:28:43.93
2 billion people in this world
00:28:43.96\00:28:46.09
that have never
heard of Jesus Christ.
00:28:46.12\00:28:47.99
Of those 2 billion people
800 million of them can only be
00:28:48.02\00:28:52.50
reached by means like aviation.
We are able to reach people that
00:28:52.53\00:28:56.18
would normally, under normal
circumstances just not be able
00:28:56.21\00:28:59.51
to be reached. And as a
result we are able to share
00:28:59.54\00:29:02.80
the love of Jesus Christ.
00:29:02.83\00:29:03.90
Pray for us! We need your
prayers more than anything else.
00:29:03.93\00:29:06.76
For more information
contact your local station.
00:29:06.79\00:29:09.71
Thanks for watching!
00:29:09.74\00:29:10.87
Ask about
Adventist World Aviation!
00:29:10.90\00:29:14.65