Narrator: Adventist World
Aviation has mission outposts
00:00:01.43\00:00:04.33
stationed all around the world
with the mission of brining
00:00:04.37\00:00:08.20
humanitarian aid and the love of
Jesus, too hard to reach areas.
00:00:08.24\00:00:13.71
Often the mission bases keep
busy flying med-evac flights,
00:00:14.21\00:00:18.41
delivering critically ill
patients from remote jungles
00:00:18.45\00:00:22.25
to a place where they can
receive a higher level of care.
00:00:22.28\00:00:25.72
These flights are not
only lifesaving, but they share
00:00:26.35\00:00:29.92
the love of Jesus and
bring hope to the hopeless.
00:00:29.96\00:00:35.06
Situated in the north
eastern corner of Nicaragua
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is one of Adventist
World Aviation's outposts.
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Where Clint Hanley and his
family dedicate their lives
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to serving the
local Miskito Indians.
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Clint: I'm Clint Hanley and
I live in Northeast Nicaragua,
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in the upper corner along
the boarder of the Rio Cocoa
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with the boarder of Honduras
and I live here with my family,
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2 children and my wife, who is
nurse and we fly this airplane,
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a Cessna 172, for medical
work, all around this region,
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covering about 150
miles in all directions.
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Since we started flying 7 years
ago, I have flown 530 patients
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from remote communities, or
from hospital to hospital and
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approximately 50-80% of those
would have, the doctors say
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would have died for sure,
had they not had transport.
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The rest of them needed
transport because they were
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in great pain, they had broken
femurs, or something like that.
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That if they would have
transported by road, it would
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have been a lot worse
for them, but they probably
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wouldn't have died.
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So it's been a big help
to the people and we're happy
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to be a small part of it.
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If our plane is down and we
can't fly, or before we came,
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the people got to the hospital
by boats, by road, by truck.
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To give you an example, to
fly from here to San Carlos
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is 35 minutes for me,
to get them to the hospital
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from the time I get the
call, until they actually arrive
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in the hospital is approximately
one and a half hours.
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If they were to take a boat,
there's no roads so they would
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have to take a boat, there's
an average of one boat a day,
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but sometimes there will
be a day or two or three that
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go by that there's no
boats. They're random.
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And the boats take 12
hours. And usually they leave
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in the morning.
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So if the accident happens
later in the day, they're having
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to wait through the night,
until the next morning and then
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hoping that they can find a boat
with room in it, then they ride
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that boat 12 hours
to get to the hospital.
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That's fairly average for a
lot of the patients that need
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to come to the hospital.
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So you can see where if it's a
snake bite, a lot of the people
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we carry are pregnant mothers
and babies and either the
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the pregnancy has a problem or
the mothers had the baby right
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away or there's a complication
between the mother and the baby.
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About 70% of our
transports are related to that.
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There is none, none other
available in all of Nicaragua
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doing this.
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And so it's a vital piece
of help that the government
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and no other aid agency
was able to offer to the people
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to save lives in transport.
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Narrator: The Adventist
World Aviation mission base
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in Tronquera is
extremely isolated.
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The Hanley's depend heavily
on aircraft to do their work
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with the native Miskito people.
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They fly med-evacs
multiple times a week.
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If their aircraft is
down, they cannot supply
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the lifesaving flights.
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Aviation operations in this part
of Nicaragua can often be tough.
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In this area, there is
no way to procure parts
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should the aircraft need repair.
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There is also no
way to mail needed parts
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to the remote AWA base.
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For this reason, Clint
must be very diligent to keep up
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the regular
maintenance on the aircraft.
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However, sometimes
unforeseen setbacks do occur.
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On this afternoon, Clint is
returning home from a med-evac
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flight, that he
made earlier in the day.
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During the return flight home,
he notices something is wrong
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with the aircraft.
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The airplane was not generating
the power it needed to charge
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components required for
communication and navigation.
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The avionics are
critical during flight,
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especially when flying in
these remote jungle regions.
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Clint: It's very interesting to
fly in this type of environment.
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I get in an airplane and I have,
you know all the navigation.
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I have radios that I can talk
all the way to America with.
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I have navigation, that tells
me exactly where I am and what's
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going on and then I land
on a runway and I shutdown the
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airplane and I step out of
it and I'm back in what we would
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consider before World War I
in the states, early 1900's.
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There's no cell
service. There's no computers.
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There's no electricity.
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There's no nothing on a
lot of these runways I fly to.
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And even at our house,
there's no power out here.
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We have power, that we
have installed in our house
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with solar power, but we
are not on any kind of grid.
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There's nothing
anywhere remotely nearby that.
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Our communication
comes from radios.
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Just recently we have cell
service, but it's very sketchy.
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So there's a lot of
logistics be to able to run
00:06:26.95\00:06:31.09
an operation like this.
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That you don't realize, when you
have an infrastructure that's
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already been developed
that you're fitting into.
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Where, when you're in
America and you already have
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everything built up.
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You have roads, you have
communications, you have power.
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You have all of those things
already set and you don't even
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consider trying to go to a place
that doesn't have any of those.
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So it's actually a very
... It's actually very hard.
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It takes a lot of planning and
a lot of extra materials to be
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able to overcome the
obstacles that you have.
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Narrator: Thankfully, he is just
a few short minutes away from
00:07:01.78\00:07:04.35
the mission base. Then
he can investigate the issue
00:07:04.39\00:07:08.79
more after he has landed.
00:07:08.82\00:07:10.56
He makes his final descent,
safely lands the airplane
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on the airbase runway.
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His family eagerly awaits
his return after each med-evac
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and he is greeted
with a loving welcome.
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This mission is
a family operation.
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Every member of the family helps
keep the aviation base operating
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Bethany and Brendell, the Hanley
children help their father
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secure the
airplane in the hangar.
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They've been around aircraft
most of their lives and offer
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a helping hand to
their father whenever needed.
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Today, Jud Wickwire,
vice president of operations
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for Adventist World
Aviation, is visiting the base.
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Clint, Jud and his assistant
Erwin, immediately begin
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to disassemble the cowling, so
they can diagnose the problem.
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Clint: So in the last fifteen
minutes before I landed my
00:08:01.94\00:08:04.75
alternator quit charging.
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So we pulled the top off and
we've looked it over and we're
00:08:06.51\00:08:09.18
trying to find out why the
alternator is not charging.
00:08:09.22\00:08:12.09
Narrator: Clint grabs a
voltage meter and begins
00:08:12.12\00:08:14.46
taking measurements.
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They aren't getting
enough normal range reading.
00:08:15.99\00:08:18.96
Clint: ACU is
ok. Our field is ok.
00:08:18.99\00:08:20.80
So if it is red, that
means that my field is bad.
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Narrator: Next Clint decides to
test the same components again,
00:08:26.10\00:08:29.44
while the aircraft is running
and compares the readings.
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For some reason, the aircraft
isn't charging the battery,
00:08:34.21\00:08:38.01
holding power like it should.
00:08:38.05\00:08:40.92
They test several engine
components to see if they can
00:08:41.22\00:08:45.32
narrow down to
the faulty culprit.
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Working on a running
aircraft has many risks.
00:08:49.29\00:08:52.29
If one were to make contact
with the spinning propeller,
00:08:53.03\00:08:57.00
it would mean instant death.
00:08:57.03\00:08:59.53
It's always important
to keep a safe distance
00:08:59.77\00:09:03.84
when an aircraft
engine is running.
00:09:03.87\00:09:06.57
Today, Clint has no choice.
00:09:07.41\00:09:09.24
He must get the readings while
the plane engine is running and
00:09:09.28\00:09:14.58
compare them to the readings of
when the engine was not running.
00:09:14.62\00:09:18.99
During this process, pilot Jud
stays in the aircraft to give
00:09:19.72\00:09:26.16
the engine more power, holding
the breaks so the airplane
00:09:26.19\00:09:30.53
doesn't move forward with Clint
so close to a moving propeller.
00:09:30.57\00:09:37.41
Clint is checking the voltage
that the aircraft is generating.
00:09:37.44\00:09:41.84
The readings are
not in normal range.
00:09:42.88\00:09:45.65
The battery does not keep
the charge it needs to power
00:09:45.68\00:09:49.42
the necessary
components in the aircraft.
00:09:49.45\00:09:52.02
Narrator: It charges the
battery and it's not required
00:09:52.15\00:09:53.92
to run the engine.
00:09:53.96\00:09:55.29
The engine runs fine without
a battery. It doesn't need that.
00:09:55.32\00:09:58.39
But it does run your radio,
which is nice for communication.
00:09:58.43\00:10:01.56
And it runs your landing
lights and your flashing lights.
00:10:01.60\00:10:04.77
It's not crucial to, you're not
going to crash because it quits,
00:10:04.80\00:10:09.10
but it is good to
have for communication.
00:10:09.14\00:10:11.77
Narrator: After
extensive testing, Clint feels
00:10:11.81\00:10:14.21
the malfunctioning alternator
is the problem in this aircraft.
00:10:14.24\00:10:19.91
Clint: Well it's
green. So what does that mean?
00:10:19.95\00:10:24.39
Jud: Well I guess it means you
don't have a short in your field
00:10:24.42\00:10:27.36
which is I mean those regulators
are nice because, you know.
00:10:27.39\00:10:31.29
You don't have to
chase down that part.
00:10:33.03\00:10:35.23
Narrator: Clint and Jud
speculate on why the battery
00:10:43.41\00:10:46.44
isn't getting charged.
00:10:46.47\00:10:48.28
Now that they have collected
the voltage readings, they have
00:10:48.81\00:10:51.81
decided to contact
an aviation mechanic
00:10:51.85\00:10:55.82
here in the United States.
00:10:55.85\00:10:57.99
Clint: It could be a
lot of different things.
00:10:59.32\00:11:00.92
So I've checked it with a
volt meter and we've got some
00:11:00.96\00:11:03.63
information and now we're
going to write the mechanic
00:11:03.66\00:11:06.06
in the States and see what
he thinks. Why it's not charging
00:11:06.09\00:11:09.90
Narrator: While Clint seeks the
advice of an aircraft mechanic,
00:11:10.43\00:11:13.74
Erwin is asked to
charge the aircraft's battery.
00:11:14.17\00:11:17.64
He brings the generator from the
house and connects the battery.
00:11:18.37\00:11:23.11
It's important to keep
the aircraft operational,
00:11:23.75\00:11:26.31
should there be another
call for a med-evac flight.
00:11:26.35\00:11:29.78
Erwin has worked with Clint
on the base for some time now.
00:11:30.42\00:11:33.92
He is a native Miskito, who
helps the mission family operate
00:11:34.26\00:11:38.83
the mission base.
00:11:38.86\00:11:40.40
Over the years, Clint has
taught Erwin many new skills,
00:11:40.73\00:11:44.73
that he can use in the future.
00:11:44.77\00:11:47.00
Most Miskito people never
receive this type of training.
00:11:47.34\00:11:50.97
The time Erwin spends
at the mission offers him
00:11:51.01\00:11:54.28
different skills that will
open many new opportunities
00:11:54.31\00:11:57.61
for him in the future.
00:11:57.65\00:11:59.01
Erwin has been so
blessed by this mission base.
00:12:15.40\00:12:18.40
He has become a
close member of the family.
00:12:18.43\00:12:20.74
He plays with the
children and enjoys the company
00:12:20.77\00:12:23.34
of all the family members.
00:12:23.37\00:12:25.07
He truly feels
loved and accepted here.
00:12:25.27\00:12:28.51
Narrator: Now Clint has a
network of mechanics, who offer
00:12:47.43\00:12:50.77
their advice when he
has mechanical questions.
00:12:50.80\00:12:54.07
Clint: So this is, I'm writing
the mechanics in the States and
00:12:54.10\00:12:57.11
asking them what their
thoughts are on this alternator
00:12:57.14\00:13:00.01
and what the problem is with it.
00:13:00.04\00:13:02.44
Because I'm not a
mechanic. But all the experts
00:13:02.48\00:13:05.48
in the States, they
can figure this stuff out.
00:13:05.51\00:13:07.72
So I just tell them
exactly what the problem is,
00:13:07.75\00:13:09.62
they tell me what
to check. And then
00:13:09.65\00:13:12.45
usually there's bouncing
back and forth emails for a few
00:13:12.49\00:13:16.12
hours till we
get it figured out.
00:13:16.16\00:13:17.73
And then we'll have to figure
out if it's fixable here, if
00:13:17.76\00:13:20.86
I have the parts or we need to
get something from the States.
00:13:20.90\00:13:23.57
Narrator: While they wait for a
response, Clint and Jud discuss
00:13:25.30\00:13:29.04
their options.
00:13:29.07\00:13:30.41
Out in this part of the
world, there are no accessible
00:13:31.31\00:13:34.38
aviation parts.
00:13:34.41\00:13:35.94
After a few minutes of
sending the email, Clint gets
00:13:36.98\00:13:40.65
a phone call from one of
his trusted mechanic friends,
00:13:40.68\00:13:44.15
who offers insight on what
might be keeping the battery
00:13:44.19\00:13:48.69
from charging.
00:13:48.72\00:13:50.19
Clint: Right, but then you
could at least tell that you've
00:13:52.69\00:13:55.06
energized it, then
that'll work. Okay.
00:13:55.10\00:13:57.00
Okay, let me try a
couple of those things, then and
00:13:57.83\00:14:01.44
I'll see what I can figure out.
00:14:01.77\00:14:03.37
Then I'll do the checking
on this and write you another
00:14:03.41\00:14:05.61
letter within the next,
within the next half hour.
00:14:05.64\00:14:09.01
Appreciate the information,
thanks so much Steve.
00:14:10.75\00:14:12.75
Okay, bye.
00:14:13.75\00:14:15.08
They gave me
more things to check.
00:14:15.48\00:14:17.19
So I'm going to go check
it out. See what I can find.
00:14:17.22\00:14:20.12
Narrator: Clint and Jud
head back up to the hangar
00:14:20.16\00:14:23.06
with a checklist of items the
mechanic asked them to inspect.
00:14:23.09\00:14:27.56
They suspect a diode in
the alternator is the culprit.
00:14:28.40\00:14:32.90
The men preform the same
tests, that yield results
00:14:33.64\00:14:37.74
that they were hoping to ovoid.
00:14:37.77\00:14:39.71
Clint: So since it's very likely
a diode. A diode went out.
00:14:42.08\00:14:47.08
somebody has the
capability to take the diode out
00:14:47.12\00:14:51.39
and replace it. That
could work. Or find new brushes.
00:14:51.42\00:14:55.56
Narrator: Again they call
the mechanic in the States
00:14:57.79\00:15:00.20
and tell him their findings.
00:15:00.23\00:15:02.26
Clint: I do have
power there on that field.
00:15:02.90\00:15:05.77
It looks like
about 10.1 to 10.3 volts.
00:15:05.80\00:15:10.47
No.
00:15:14.04\00:15:15.38
On the frame of the alternator?
No. Not that I know of.
00:15:15.41\00:15:20.88
Narrator: It appears that
the alternator has gone bad.
00:15:22.38\00:15:25.09
Without the alternator,
this plane cannot fly.
00:15:25.92\00:15:29.42
Even worse, there's no way
for Clint to get an alternator
00:15:29.86\00:15:34.46
locally.
00:15:34.50\00:15:35.83
There is the option of
temporarily repairing this one,
00:15:35.96\00:15:39.23
but no one's knows how
long the repair will hold.
00:15:39.47\00:15:42.60
Neither men feel
comfortable with that solution.
00:15:42.64\00:15:45.71
They must find a way to get a
new alternator for this plane,
00:15:45.74\00:15:49.94
and do it fast!
00:15:49.98\00:15:52.05
Jud: Then we talked to the
mechanic and he gave us one
00:15:52.08\00:15:53.82
more wire to check the voltage
on between the regulator.
00:15:53.85\00:15:58.85
Between the alternator
and the voltage regulator.
00:15:58.89\00:16:02.42
And that conclusively shows that
because there was power there
00:16:02.46\00:16:08.56
that the
alternator is not charging.
00:16:08.60\00:16:11.97
So that narrows down the problem
to exactly that it is the
00:16:12.00\00:16:15.20
alternator that is failing.
00:16:15.24\00:16:16.57
Narrator: This diagnosis
will not be an easy fix.
00:16:16.71\00:16:19.27
They must now find a
way to get a new alternator
00:16:19.31\00:16:22.34
delivered to them.
00:16:22.38\00:16:23.98
Procuring this piece is
not possible in this part
00:16:24.01\00:16:27.55
of Nicaragua.
00:16:27.58\00:16:28.95
Also, there's no mail
delivery into this area.
00:16:28.98\00:16:33.09
The only viable option is
obtaining the part in the United
00:16:33.22\00:16:37.66
States and having
someone personally travel down
00:16:37.69\00:16:42.13
to Nicaragua with the
new alternator in hand.
00:16:42.16\00:16:46.57
Jud knows just
the man for the job.
00:16:47.40\00:16:51.67
Jud: We're ahh... as we, what we
call the mules, we're going to
00:16:51.71\00:16:56.21
call one of our supporters,
who is retired from American
00:16:56.24\00:16:59.68
Airlines and can fly on
standby anytime that he wants.
00:16:59.71\00:17:03.02
And so we're going to see if
we can get the alternator sent
00:17:03.05\00:17:04.95
to him and have him jump on an
airplane and fly down to Managua
00:17:04.99\00:17:08.32
and deliver it, personally.
00:17:08.36\00:17:10.43
And he's actually an A&P, so
he can sign out the installation
00:17:10.76\00:17:13.33
of the
alternator on the airplane.
00:17:13.36\00:17:15.36
Narrator: So Jud makes a call to
Tom, praying he's available and
00:17:15.90\00:17:20.60
willing to accept this mission.
00:17:20.64\00:17:23.27
Jud: Hi Tom, this is Jud
Wickwire. I'm pretty good.
00:17:24.97\00:17:29.68
I'm calling you
from down in Nicaragua.
00:17:29.71\00:17:31.71
Tom, I have a question for you.
00:17:36.75\00:17:39.69
We just, in the 172
here, just discovered
00:17:39.72\00:17:42.19
that the alternator has failed.
00:17:42.22\00:17:43.96
And we have an online
order on getting a new one.
00:17:45.49\00:17:49.63
But we might need delivery.
Would you be interested in that?
00:17:49.66\00:17:57.07
Narrator: Friend it doesn't
take much to convince Tom
00:17:57.21\00:18:00.08
to make the trip to Nicaragua.
00:18:00.11\00:18:03.21
He is ever so ready to
help in any way he can.
00:18:03.24\00:18:07.18
Tom is the perfect man
for the job since he is also
00:18:07.52\00:18:11.39
an airplane mechanic.
00:18:11.42\00:18:13.29
Not only can he deliver
the part, but he can also help
00:18:13.32\00:18:17.13
with the installation.
00:18:17.16\00:18:18.63
Jud: Well we sure appreciate
it. And yah, it would be a great
00:18:19.66\00:18:22.10
opportunity for you to
see the project here too.
00:18:22.13\00:18:24.20
So, cool.
Awesome. Fantastic. Okay!
00:18:24.23\00:18:28.24
Clint: That's wonderful!
00:18:28.27\00:18:29.60
Jud: He's just,
He's all over it! Yup!
00:18:29.64\00:18:30.97
Clint: Yah? He's
ready to come now?
00:18:31.01\00:18:32.34
Jud: Yup.
00:18:32.37\00:18:33.71
Clint: Really? Wow!
00:18:33.74\00:18:35.08
Jud: I've got his
address and loop that together
00:18:35.11\00:18:37.18
and that's awesome.
00:18:37.21\00:18:38.55
Clint: Excellent.
00:18:38.58\00:18:39.91
Narrator: Clint is
over joyed to hear the news.
00:18:41.08\00:18:43.75
Not only did they diagnose
the problem, but they also found
00:18:44.05\00:18:48.42
a solution all on the same day.
00:18:48.46\00:18:52.13
Which means the plane
will not be down for very long.
00:18:53.16\00:18:57.97
Within a few short days Tom will
arrive with the new alternator
00:18:58.10\00:19:02.77
needed to make this
plane airworthy once again.
00:19:02.80\00:19:06.24
Praise the Lord for such a
quick and speedy resolution.
00:19:06.27\00:19:10.85
This could have potentially
grounded this aviation mission
00:19:10.88\00:19:14.85
base for months, but with God
working, the airplane will only
00:19:14.88\00:19:21.19
be down for a few
short days. Hallelujah!
00:19:21.22\00:19:26.36
Since the airplane is already in
for repair, Jud and Clint decide
00:19:27.86\00:19:32.77
to make good use of the rest of
the day and preform some routine
00:19:32.80\00:19:36.54
maintenance on the aircraft.
00:19:36.57\00:19:38.97
Flying in these humid and
dusty conditions takes a toll
00:19:39.21\00:19:42.94
on any airplane.
00:19:42.98\00:19:44.81
Clint does faithful
regular maintenance to make sure
00:19:45.35\00:19:50.35
this airplane stays in
optimal flying condition.
00:19:50.39\00:19:55.56
Clint: It's a lot
harder than it is in America,
00:19:55.89\00:19:57.69
because the environment is
a lot harder on the airplane.
00:19:57.73\00:20:02.36
Because of the humidity and
because of the dusty conditions,
00:20:02.40\00:20:08.17
landing on gravel runways where
the plane shakes a lot because
00:20:08.20\00:20:12.17
you're on dirt and gravel.
So there's a lot of vibration.
00:20:12.21\00:20:15.31
You have a lot more maintenance
then you would in the States
00:20:15.34\00:20:18.81
and so it means a lot
more parts being brought down.
00:20:18.85\00:20:22.48
People hand carrying them
since there's no shipping.
00:20:22.68\00:20:24.89
No way to ship
something down to our location.
00:20:24.92\00:20:26.59
Somebody actually has to carry
it down in a suitcase by hand
00:20:26.62\00:20:29.76
to deliver it to us.
00:20:29.79\00:20:31.86
So the parts that you
bring down can be complicated
00:20:32.19\00:20:36.10
and hard to get.
00:20:36.13\00:20:37.47
Narrator: Clint
does an oil change.
00:20:37.97\00:20:39.57
Even this simple maintenance
task requires much more effort
00:20:39.60\00:20:43.30
in the mission field then
it would in North America.
00:20:43.34\00:20:46.68
Clint: This oil comes
from one place in Managua
00:20:46.71\00:20:51.45
that we can get it.
00:20:51.48\00:20:52.81
One place in the
whole country of Nicaragua
00:20:52.85\00:20:54.55
we can get airplane oil.
00:20:54.58\00:20:56.38
And since oil is
flammable you can't ship it.
00:20:56.42\00:20:58.92
So we're fortunate to be able
to buy it at that one place.
00:20:58.95\00:21:01.46
And it's expensive, but we're
fortunate to be able to get it.
00:21:01.49\00:21:06.59
Because if you can't get
oil, you'd be in trouble.
00:21:06.63\00:21:08.60
We change it
about every 40 hours.
00:21:08.63\00:21:10.40
Normally in the States you would
change it, now quite that often.
00:21:10.43\00:21:13.80
But we fly in conditions
of a lot of dust and dirt
00:21:13.84\00:21:17.57
and also the high
humidity being in the tropics.
00:21:17.61\00:21:20.31
We change it more often.
00:21:20.34\00:21:22.31
And so we change the filter
and the oil every forty hours.
00:21:23.35\00:21:26.85
Narrator: While the men continue
to work on the aircraft, in the
00:21:27.68\00:21:30.79
back of their minds they
know that the new alternator
00:21:30.82\00:21:33.15
is in route.
00:21:33.19\00:21:34.52
Tom received the alternator
and is flying to Nicaragua
00:21:34.69\00:21:39.59
to deliver it personally.
00:21:39.63\00:21:41.13
He flies commercially and
then Clint makes the journey
00:21:41.46\00:21:45.17
to collect him.
00:21:45.20\00:21:46.53
They are over joyed that
God opened so many doors to make
00:21:46.87\00:21:50.57
this all come
together so very quickly.
00:21:50.61\00:21:54.28
Tom: A few days ago Jud called
me and asked me if I could bring
00:21:55.48\00:21:58.15
a part down to Nicaragua.
00:21:58.18\00:21:59.68
And I said yes. And
that's where things began.
00:21:59.71\00:22:02.82
The part was shipped to my house
00:22:03.35\00:22:04.95
They called me like on a
Wednesday, two days after that
00:22:04.99\00:22:07.66
the part arrived at my home.
00:22:07.69\00:22:09.49
Sunday I made the reservations
and Monday I flew out.
00:22:10.53\00:22:13.80
Narrator: Now that Tom has
arrived at the mission base,
00:22:15.33\00:22:17.80
the men waste no time.
00:22:17.83\00:22:20.67
They begin by taking
off the old alternator.
00:22:23.47\00:22:25.97
Erwin is eager to
help and learn all he can
00:22:26.01\00:22:28.78
as he watches Clint work.
00:22:28.81\00:22:30.61
Once the alternator is removed,
they can begin to install
00:22:30.65\00:22:33.75
the new one.
00:22:33.78\00:22:35.15
Clint: This is the old one, and
this is the new one that he just
00:22:36.52\00:22:38.39
carried down from America.
00:22:38.42\00:22:40.32
So right now, this one has a
gear on the top, so we're going
00:22:40.36\00:22:43.96
to change this gear out to that.
00:22:43.99\00:22:45.89
And we're going to clean
it all up and we're ready
00:22:45.93\00:22:48.00
to install the new one.
00:22:48.03\00:22:50.23
It's just three
bolts holding it on.
00:22:50.27\00:22:52.10
It's a fairly
simple little piece.
00:22:52.13\00:22:53.47
You wouldn't think that this
could stop the whole airplane
00:22:53.50\00:22:55.30
from flying, but
it can. And it did.
00:22:55.34\00:22:59.67
Narrator: Inside the workshop,
the men work delicately
00:23:03.18\00:23:07.68
to remove the head
gear on the old alternator.
00:23:07.72\00:23:11.79
They will need this
part from the old alternator
00:23:12.32\00:23:15.22
and attach it to the new.
00:23:15.26\00:23:17.33
They cannot afford to damage
this piece during the removal.
00:23:17.36\00:23:21.30
The new alternator will not work
without this vital key component
00:23:21.33\00:23:26.03
Just like most airplane
parts, they don't have access
00:23:26.07\00:23:30.07
to any other gearheads
in Nicaragua, so they must
00:23:30.11\00:23:34.08
make sure this one is
transferred without damage.
00:23:34.11\00:23:40.38
Tom and Clint work together
as they secure the new piece.
00:23:40.78\00:23:44.09
Just a few more steps and they
will be ready to install this
00:23:44.12\00:23:48.39
new alternator, which
should ultimately fix the plane.
00:23:48.42\00:23:53.23
Erwin stands ready
to help any way he can.
00:23:53.56\00:23:56.43
He peers into the
garage from the doorway.
00:23:56.46\00:23:59.53
He doesn't want to miss a thing.
00:23:59.57\00:24:01.57
He greatly enjoys learning
all he can about airplanes.
00:24:01.60\00:24:05.54
All work together until the
gearhead is secured in place
00:24:05.77\00:24:10.38
on the new alternator.
00:24:10.41\00:24:12.28
The installation of the new
alternator is all that is left
00:24:12.61\00:24:16.48
to be done.
00:24:16.52\00:24:18.02
It's now time to
install the alternator.
00:24:18.75\00:24:21.39
This new part will help keep
this Adventist World Aviation
00:24:21.42\00:24:25.59
mission base
operational for many more years.
00:24:25.63\00:24:29.46
Clint slides the new part into
the aircraft engine compartment.
00:24:30.27\00:24:34.27
It fits perfectly,
like a missing puzzle piece.
00:24:34.50\00:24:38.94
It takes many hands to
secure the alternator in place.
00:24:39.47\00:24:43.08
Erwin is not left out
and he assists Tom and Clint
00:24:43.11\00:24:48.38
in the installation.
00:24:48.42\00:24:50.35
Brendell is also part
of this process, he stands
00:24:50.92\00:24:54.66
by his dad's side and
hands him the pieces Clint needs
00:24:54.69\00:24:58.99
to continue the repair.
00:24:59.03\00:25:01.50
The men work harmoniously
together in the afternoon
00:25:01.96\00:25:05.97
Nicaraguan sun.
00:25:06.00\00:25:08.07
To keep this mission base
operational, it takes many
00:25:08.40\00:25:11.11
dedicated people.
00:25:11.14\00:25:12.64
The Hanley's could not do their
mission work here in Nicaragua
00:25:12.67\00:25:15.48
without the backing they receive
from donors and volunteers
00:25:15.51\00:25:18.95
in North America.
00:25:18.98\00:25:21.72
This aviation mission
base is truly a team effort.
00:25:22.15\00:25:26.22
Many hands making light work.
00:25:26.76\00:25:29.39
Soon the alternator
is secured in place.
00:25:30.09\00:25:34.80
Clint: Okay so this is the new
alternator that we got just put
00:25:35.13\00:25:37.20
on and we're just finishing
tightening the last bolts.
00:25:37.23\00:25:40.87
Everything fits, it's the exact
part that we needed and we're
00:25:40.90\00:25:44.21
going to start the
engine now and make sure
00:25:44.24\00:25:45.61
that everything is working good.
00:25:45.64\00:25:46.98
And then we'll take
it for a test flight.
00:25:47.01\00:25:48.51
Okay, so this is the trial run.
00:25:49.58\00:25:51.01
We're going to start the engine
and we're going to check if the
00:25:51.05\00:25:53.01
battery is charging with
our new part that we put in.
00:25:53.05\00:25:55.25
Are we ready?
00:25:55.98\00:25:57.32
Narrator: Now it comes
time to test the men's work.
00:25:59.55\00:26:01.72
They start the engine and the
propeller whirls into motion.
00:26:01.76\00:26:06.09
Praise God, the new alternator
has fixed the problem.
00:26:06.59\00:26:10.43
The mission plane is
repaired! It's ready to continue
00:26:10.97\00:26:14.80
to serve the Miskito people!
00:26:14.84\00:26:18.04
Clint: You did a good
job, it works beautiful.
00:26:18.37\00:26:20.38
Did it leak any oil?
No. Beautiful. No oil leaks,
00:26:20.41\00:26:24.95
everything looks good.
00:26:24.98\00:26:26.55
Tom: If you fly it a
couple times, we'll check it.
00:26:26.58\00:26:28.42
Clint: Good job! Thank you! You
took a lot of work to come down
00:26:28.45\00:26:34.69
here all the way
from the States to help.
00:26:34.72\00:26:36.52
That isn't something
everybody will just do.
00:26:36.56\00:26:38.56
Oh yah I'll just carry
something to Nicaragua!
00:26:38.59\00:26:40.73
Tom: Hey, I love doing it.
00:26:41.76\00:26:43.10
Narrator: Clint is
so appreciative to Tom
00:26:44.40\00:26:46.47
for his dedication
to the mission work.
00:26:46.50\00:26:49.90
Without his help, this mission
plane could have been grounded
00:26:50.41\00:26:54.48
for months, instead
of a few short days.
00:26:54.51\00:26:58.55
Now it's time to
test fly the aircraft.
00:26:59.28\00:27:02.12
Erwin helps to assemble
the cowling on the aircraft.
00:27:02.85\00:27:07.16
Over the years he has done this
many times with Clint, so he is
00:27:07.89\00:27:12.39
familiar with the procedure.
00:27:12.43\00:27:14.20
Once assembled, the two
pilots take the aircraft
00:27:14.73\00:27:18.50
up for a test flight.
00:27:18.53\00:27:20.20
The airplane takes off
into the setting Nicaragua sun.
00:27:20.74\00:27:24.67
This day has been a busy one for
these men but they are overjoyed
00:27:26.17\00:27:31.78
by the outcome of their work.
00:27:31.81\00:27:33.68
Working in the AWA Nicaraguan
airbase might not be easy work,
00:27:34.32\00:27:39.35
but the joy this work
brings is irreplaceable.
00:27:39.39\00:27:44.19
Tom was able to experience
that joy, as he volunteered
00:27:44.69\00:27:49.60
his time and money to
help Adventist World Aviation.
00:27:49.63\00:27:56.44
Tom: It was a very good feeling
that the Lord allowed me,
00:27:57.37\00:28:00.61
and put me in this position,
where I could take a part down
00:28:00.64\00:28:04.21
to Nicaragua and install a
part and to get the airplane
00:28:04.25\00:28:08.02
to fly again in good condition.
00:28:08.05\00:28:10.25
The Lord has blessed me and
I thoroughly enjoy doing things
00:28:10.79\00:28:14.06
like this so I hope
I get to do it again.
00:28:14.09\00:28:16.12