AMS Newsletter.pdf

ISSUE ONE 2009
THE
SOUTH AFRICAN RED CROSS
SOCIETY
S A R C SAMS
S.A. RED CROSS AIR MERCY SERVICE
Wings of Mercy
AMS
1966
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2006
NEWSLETTER OF THE SA RED CROSS AIR MERCY SERVICE
017-180 NPO
Photo: Roger Sedres Photography
The National Department of Health (DoH)
decided at the beginning of 2008 to draft
specifications for a national tender in
consultation with the Provinces to establish
a national network of aero-medical
services in South Africa. The objective was
to establish a national norm for services
and a predetermined pricing structure that
would be valid for three years. This
obviates the need for individual provinces
to “re-invent the wheel” all the time with
regards to tender procedures and the
specifications associated with it.
Although the 2010 world cup played a role
in the decision to put out the National
Tender, it was only a catalyst to speed up
the implementation of a national network of
services that was already in planning. The
tender was awarded in totality to the AMS
as the sole provider of aero-medical
services to the eight provinces who
participated in the National Tender. It is
however left to the individual provinces to
enter into Service Level Agreements (SLA)
with theAMS to render the service.
AMS sole provider of
aero-medical services
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Limpopo and North West) during the course
of 2009. It is expected that we will have to
start as soon as possible in Gauteng and
Limpopo. These SLA's have however not
been signed as yet. The aircraft fleet will
have to grow accordingly but this is in hand
due to foresight of the CEO who has been
planning and implementing the growth and
modernisation of the fleet for a national
network.
The acquisition of scarce skills (especially
experienced helicopter pilots and
paramedics) will remain a challenge but we
hope to attract same as we continue to
provide an exciting and satisfying work
environment. We do however still need to
attract significant donor funding to assist
with establishing the infrastructure as these
have not been costed into the tender. These
are challenging but exciting times for AMS
and the country. Thankfully we are blessed
with a team where every individual is
prepared to go the extra mile to continue to
grow a service that is really meaningful and
make a difference to all our communities.
PDP Focus
Lebogang Manganye
Twenty three year old Lebogang Manganye
also known as Lebo was born in
Hammanskraal, 50 kilometres north of
Pretoria. Lebo is the second candidate to
have successfully completed the AMS/SAA
Pilot Development Programme. Lebo and
Johan Moroasui (the first candidate to have
successfully complete the AMS/SAA Pilot
Development Programme) are now line
Captains on the AMS PC12 fleet in Durban
and Kimberley respectively. As part of AMS
commitment to transformation, it has
introduced a Pilot Development Programme
(PDP) in association with South African
Airways (SAA). The objective of the
programme is to take pilots who have
qualified through the South African Airways
Cadet Pilot Programme and to develop their
skills and experience in a structured and
controlled programme.
The induction starts in Kimberley, flying with
experienced pilots for approximately one
month to gain valuable knowledge of the
aircraft and its operations.Atechnical ground
school in Cape Town is followed by practical
training. Initial flying is done in Kimberley
then advanced instrument training in Cape
Town, where a Designated Examiner signs
them out. After 12 months of line flying
candidates are transferred to the Durban
base for six to twelve months to hone in on
their flying skills, especially their instrument
flying and short field landing skills. On
completion of the training they will be
commercially qualified, experienced pilots
ready to be absorbed by SAA or by AMS as
line pilots available for the commercial
market.
Lebogang Manganye
The implications for the AMS are that we
have to implement an aero-medical service
in a further three Provinces (Gauteng,
Words of Wisdom
“The only way of finding the limits
of the possible is by going beyond
them into the impossible.”
Arthur C. Clarke

Durban Base Celebrates
Photo: Roger Sedres Photography
John Stone, AMS CEO proudly accepts
the certificate from Pule Ramolefe, Flight
Operations - Helicopter Manager.
INTERNATIONAL
LICENSE FOR AMS
Having an international license gives
AMS the ability to provide services over
the borders of SouthAfrica.
Although numerous requests are
received on a regular basis from clients,
we shall only pursue establishing this
service at a later stage as all our
capacity is being absorbed by
establishing a national network for
SouthAfrica.
A special word
of thanks to...
Photo: Roger Sedres Photography
Afzal Khan (Durban Base Manager) cuts the cake that marked the celebration of the evening with
Delmarie Steward (Vice President of SARCS), Prof Kovin Naidoo (AMS Chairperson), Ms. Neliswa
Nkonyeni (KZN Minister of Health), Dr Y Mbele (Acting HOD for DOH) while AMS, Trustee Alan
Marshall looks on.
AMS in partnership with the Provincial Department of Health celebrated 10 years of service to
the community of KwaZulu-Natal.
Doctors, specialists and allied healthcare practitioners are taken out on a daily basis to
outlying areas of the province to provide lectures, teaching ward rounds, specialist
consultations, surgery, support to the rural health worker and much more. To this end, more
than 20 000 patients are treated annually who would otherwise not have been able to access
specialist healthcare.
Newsclip media monitoring service for
once again signing us on as a pro-bono
client.
Cape Union Mart for sponsoring the
Cape Town Base with rescue gear to
serve as protection to the rescuers who
risk their own lives to save those in
need of help.
Sharleen Sumadraji (FDS
Assistant), Kogie Naidoo
(FDS Co-ordinator), Yolanda
Huri (Admin Assistant) &
Fahima Haffejee.
Valerio Stella (Agusta Westland
Regional Manager Sub-Saharan
Region), John Stone (AMS CEO),
Pule Ramolefe (Flight Operations
Helicopter Manager), Ms Neliswa
Nkonyeni (KZN Minister of Health)
& Kovin Naidoo (AMS Chairperson).
KZN Volunteer staff.
The 10 year celebration was hosted to thank and acknowledge all the volunteer healthcare
practitioners and other stakeholders who have made the programme a success. This event
was kindly sponsored by Agusta Westland and other organisations within the KwaZulu-Natal
province. We wish to thank everyone that played a role in making this event a success.
Congratulations to Ashwin
Krishna who has been
promoted from Cape Town
Base Manager to National
Operations Manager. We
wish him every success in
his new position.
Marimba band
entertaining guests.
Mangwanani spa dancers.
2

Safety First
This year we have already witnessed some very
inspiring and also some most unfortunate aircraft
accidents internationally. Just as we start thinking that
aviation has become run of the mill we are reminded
that there are always inherent risks in defying the
earth's gravitational pull. In February this year the
Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) met to discuss how
safety in aero-medical services could be improved after the
appalling accident record of the previous year. A comprehensive analysis of data compiled by
the University of Chicago Medical Centre shows that the sector experienced three accidents per
100,000 flight hours flown in 2008, the accident rate in aero-medical work was, I believe, higher
than any other industry in terms of risk as measured by the US department of labour.
A Warm Thanks to:
Our heartfelt thanks to the following
organisations and individuals whose
support whether financial or “in kind”
is much appreciated.
National:
Agusta Westland
Newsclip Media Monitoring
Cape Jewish Seniors Association
Roger Sedres Photography
To ensure our safety we cannot afford a blasé approach to risk management. We can only do
something about the risks we have identified. To help us in this task we have had numerous
persons trained as safety representatives and I would like to congratulate Martin Meyer,
Cornelius Van Eijk, Francois Du Toit, Bees Marais and Zane Schamrel on successfully
completing their safety training this year. Our Base Safety Reps will need all your input in
ensuring our safety.
On a positive note we also witnessed the amazing success of USAirways Flight 1 549 where the
crew under the command of Captain Chelsey Sullenberger managed to safely put the stricken
Airbus A320 onto the Hudson River and evacuate everyone on board, without serious injury or
death. While the crew deserves all the accolades they have received we should not
underestimate the importance of the system that ensures that they were adequately trained and
equipped and that the safety and survival equipment required was available and functioned
properly. No doubt numerous unmentioned people helped in this. Perhaps we should all
consider how the experience, training and safety equipment helped to ensure that a positive
outcome was achieved. When we find ourselves in a difficult situation how will our training,
experience and safety equipment fare?
Having visited all the existing AMS Bases in the past three months, I was very impressed with
the enthusiasm displayed by our staff to improve our level of safety. The safety audits carried out
have been well received and it was great to see implementation of numerous suggestions as
well as innovations that were already in place, at particular bases. To assist in responding to
your suggestions for safety improvement we are moving to a Web Based System for reporting of
safety occurrences and hazard reports. This should allow you to monitor and track the
responses to your safety concerns. Watch this space! I am looking forward to this
implementation and your feedback as we continue to roll out the new Safety Management
System.
While we rise to meet the new challenges of this year we are likely to make some mistakes. The
greatest mistake would be to not report them. We have adopted a policy of a “just culture” as
regards the Safety Management System. This means that there will not be sanction against
those who report honest mistakes or omissions. If you don't think this applies to you because
you or your team does not make mistakes then you are probably dangerously overconfident and
should rather consider becoming an Australian sports commentator. We all learn from our
mistakes but it really helps when we learn from each other's mistakes. Keep it safe.
Safety Manager, Kevin Donnellan
Durban:
Sibaya Casino & Entertainment Kingdom
Delightful Décor
Gearhouse Technical
POP's Print
Mangwanani Spa
JMC Melnicks
Stoneycroft Wines
Cellect Cellular
KFML Holding Ltd (Spec Savers)
Cape Town:
Cape Union Mart
Help keep us in the air
Our Flying Doctor and Air Ambulance
services rely on public donations
and community support. Every Section 18A tax
rand helps us save lives.
benefits now available
for donations.
Name ............................................................................
Tel .................................................................................
Address .........................................................................
........................................................................................
........................................................................................
Email .............................................................................
Soft Toys donation…
The Cape Jewish Seniors Association (CJSA) donated
soft toys to the AMS. The toys were knitted by hand, each
with a unique colour for each child that will receive it.
Please find enclosed my cheque / postal order for
R ...................................................................................
Or please debit my credit card by R .............................
monthly for ........................... months.
Card no .........................................................................
Expiry date ......................... Last three digits ..............
The toys are handed to our 'little' patients when they are
flown to and from hospital by our flight paramedics and
nurses.
These soft toys bring comfort and a sense of relief to our
young patients while they are being treated on board our
aircrafts.
From back left to right: Rhona
Goldberg, Venessa Jafta (Public
Relations Officer), Judy Geber,
Shirley Elvey (Social Worker),
Dorothy Wooly and Doreen Kantor.
Not present: Stenny Bernstein and
Rochelle Goldschmidt.
BANK ACCOUNT NAME:
SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service Trust
BANK: Absa, Parow
BRANCH CODE: 502110
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 01133820210
Should you make a bank deposit,
kindly fax your deposit slip to us
at fax no: (021) 934-8700
3

Annual Management
Focus Programme
'Socrates & the Fox’
AMS Management Team
A strategic planning session was facilitated by Margie Stone from Excelebrate
for theAMS management team to enhance energy levels, build self motivation
and to focus on developing the communication within AMS. The theme of the
session was 'Socrates & the Fox'.
'Your final remark, my dear friend, is whether you intended it or not - a Socratic
outcome. You are a 'seer' in the true meaning of the word. Not only do you see
things more quickly than other animals because of your peripheral vision,
you'll see things differently - stripped of the assumptions and 'laws' we all like
to lay down. You see things as they really are and, by doing just that, you see
into the future. My life's work has been trying to give people a fraction of your
talent by asking questions that reveal the truth behind the mask of
appearances. Goodbye and good luck.'
Extract from the dialogue of Socrates & the Fox
Attendees:
Gerald McCarthy (Chief Flight Instructor - Fixed Wing Pilot), JR Redelinghuys (Chief
Flight Instructor Rotor Wing Pilot), Iefan Blake (Snr Pilot), Philip Erasmus (Chief
Operations Officer), Ashwin Krishna (Operations Manager), John Stone (Chief
Executive Officer), Cheryl Pedersen (Training Manager), Gadija Ryklief (Personal
Assistant to CEO & COO), Alett Vermeulen (Kimberley Base Manager), Venessa Jafta
(Public Relations Officer), Annemarie Kellerman (Financial Manager), KV Naidoo
(Project Manager), Gary McCormick (Quality Manager), Catherine Brown (Human
Resources Manager), Farhaad Haffejee (Corporate Affairs Manager), Kevin Donnellan
(Safety Manager) &Afzal Khan (Durban Base Manager).
Cape Town base donates...
Mark Allan (Aviation
Maintenance
Engineer) & Radia
Jacobs (Creditors
Clerk) donate blood.
Cape Town base with the support
of surrounding businesses as well
as visitors hosted a blood donor
clinic for the Western Province
Blood Transfusion Service. 18
units of blood were donated.
Donors are recruited on a
voluntary basis and are accepted
only if they comply with stringent
selection criteria. For further
information on blood donation,
contact the WP Blood Transfusion
Service on 021 507 6300 or log on
to www.wpblood.org.za
Prospective donors should be:
between 17 and 65 years of age,
weigh more than 50 kilograms,
live a safe and healthy lifestyle.
Factory Maintenance Course
for Engineers
The AMS engineers attended the Agusta AW 119Ke
factory maintenance course that was held in Cape Town.
The course allows them to maintain the new Agusta AW
119Ke helicopters. The course was presented by Agusta
Westland Technical Instructors.
From back left to right: Mark
Allan, Diego La Rosa (Agusta
Westland Technical Instructor),
JR Redelinghuys (Chief Pilot,
CFI Rotor Wing), Ismail Kabley,
Eugene Mazimpaka, Carlo Kok,
Karl Bulow & Francesco Nicotra
(Agusta Westland Technical
Instructor)
Newest addition to the AMS fleet...
The newest addition to the AMS fleet has arrived! The first two Agusta 119Ke
helicopters brought excitement to everyone at the AMS. The aircraft will be
used for air ambulance and rescue work around the country and will be
operating in Cape Town and Oudtshoorn first. There will be further deliveries
during the course of the year. The AMS will also take delivery of a new
EurocopterAS 350 B4 helicopter inApril.
Keep a look out for the fully branded aircraft in our next edition.
4
AMS’ bundle of joy
We would like to congratulate Afzal (Durban Base
Manager) & Anisa Khan, on the birth of their
daughter Amara. We know this special little bundle
will fill your lives with much happiness and joy in the
years to come.
Carlo Kok (Chief Engineer - Aircraft Maintenance) and
Michael Moerdijk (Flight co-ordinator) unwrap the aircraft.
new no.
(SA only)
Trust Reg No:
T3404/94
NPO 017 - 180
Look who’s tied the knot...
Congratulations to Venessa (AMS PRO) and
Alfred Jafta, JC (AMS Fixed Wing Pilot) &
Tertia Linde on their wedding days.
We wish them all the happiness
their new lives bring.
International number: +27 21 935 6900
Head Office:
P.O. Box 93, Cape Town International, 7525
Tel: 086 11 MERCY (63729) | Fax: 021 934 8700
Email: info@ams.org.za | Website: www.ams.org.za
Cape Town Base:
Oudtshoorn Base:
Durban Base:
Kimberley Base:
Richards Bay Base:
Nelspruit Base:
Bloemfontein Base:
CONTACT US
National emergency number
08611 267 267
086 11 MERCY
044 272 0227
086 11 MERCY
053 851 1136
035 786 1917
013 741 1215
051 451 1181