End of term

The Girls had their end of term party where all the young Ladies had matching dresses for the party . The party went very well according to plan and they all ate and danced together as a team. When the party came to an end, the Ladies decided to have their pictures taken with some of the team members like 9G-ZAF and their favourite newly purchased John Deere sit and ride lawn mower.

Girls on placement

The young ladies are now on placement. One of the girls is on placement in Brong Ahafo, four in Kete Krachi. All of them will visit schools and the local airstrips as part of their placement. The Krachi girls will return for some placement time at Kpong prior to the end of year break. The two girls left at the field on Kpong placement have the task of mastering the new John Deere mower - getting the airfield ready for the weeekend.

The Girls Being Briefed

They all sat down for their random questions and and answers section.

Morning section

The Girls were all ready to start their morning very enthusiastic after having thier breakfast

Sharing experiencies

This week, the Girls had the chance to share with a very experience aviator who spent over twenty hours flying from Germany to Ghana via France, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Sierra Leon, Liberia, Cote devoir. |As a celebration of 50 years since the first Ghanaian cadets went to the german Island of Juist to learn to fly, Joeg Bohn and George Manu flew a Ruschmeyer R90 in a project called ‘Ghana-Juist 1962’ and used it to raise awareness of Medicine on the Move and the AvTech Academy along the way. After Jeorg and George landed in Accra to clear formalities, they flew up to Kpong Airfield to share with the young ladies in the AvTech Academy what their experience from Germany to Ghana was like, to help broaden the minds of the young aviators. They had a full tour around the Ruschmeyer in order to learn about some of its features, many of which are not that common with the planes they are exposed to at the airfield. Al the Seagulls (3rd year Girls) had the opportunity to fly with Jeorg in the circuit, demonstrating their flying skills, which they thoroughly enjoyed. The Sparrows (year 1 students) got to fly too. \ Experiences like this provide a deepening of understanding as well as exposure to new aircraft types – both in configuration and in construction .

Enjoying everyday as it comes

Like everybody know when we receive gifts from other people makes us want to thank them for that gift, The Girls received a package from ATS(Aircraft tools supply)this week. They were very trilled about those tools, they have already started using the tools in the workshop with much confidence and pride. Many thanks to ATS for their kind support in everything we do to change the lives of many through one flight at time.

Avtech girls as volunteers for MoM

In preparation for the opening of the Hellen Himsworth memorial clinic, the Avtech girls worked very hard in making sure that, their classroom which is attached to the same bungalow as the clinic is in good order for the opening since all the invited guests would take a look that as part of the agenda. At the opening, one Doctor from the Volta River Authority Hospital made mention that, the hospital will look at supporting MoM by giving some basic training to the girls in the academy which is health related to help encourage the Girls in their Chosen career. At the end of the event, the Doctor had a photo with Girls as a thank you for doing what they have chosen to do to change life one flight at a time.

Positive approach towards learning

Once again the Girls are really busy and working hard these days in both the classroom and the workshop in order to earn more points for their flying lessons. The Seagulls have been heavily involved in teaching the Sparrows how to do 50/100hr service. I was very please seeing these Girls working positively in this environment which is particularly not easy to succeed in making a difference but, they are all the effortsto making success in life.

IATA, AFI RUNWAY SAFETY WORKSHOP

This week, the Girls have been involved in an IATA runway safety workshop, focusing on runway excursions and how to prevent them The Girls arrived at the conference and got put in groups to discuss scenarios on runway excursions and incursions, based on the exercise, the outcome analysis was that, runway excursions and incursions generally occur through a combination of factors such as planning, infrastructural, maintenance, meteorological and can it was observed that the runway excursion rate can be addressed in Africa through the implementation of multi disciplinary runway safety teams. The day after this, We run a safety training at the airfield for all staff and some selected visitors.

A day of lot of drilling

We all chipped into the workshop this morning and started drilling holes in the wing skeleton in order to get it ready for skinning. The first year student group are designated 'sparrows' and the third year students 'seagulls'... The day started with the Seagulls teaching the sparrows the names of all the tools in the workshop and after about an hour, the sparrows were able to identify the different tools comfortably. As the day progressed, there was a lot of drilling, cleco work, de-burring, de-greasing and cortecking parts for mating and riveting.

Start of term

The Girls got ready early this morning for the start of term. The most important thing they learnt this morning was about Health and Safety at the work place since they are involved with the use of dangerous tools in the workshops. PPE(personal protective equipment), the different hazards at the work place and measures to prevent them.

School resumes tomorrow

Since school starts tomorrow for the AvTech Girls, in preparation, we have been busy setting up the new training centre ready for the start of term. The chairs, computer, projector and everything to make the training centre comfortable. Our sincere thanks goes to Francis Norman for supporting us achieve this joint MoM/Avtech facility.

Patricia Mawuli on CCTV

Patricia Mawuli, Teacher, instructor, Pilot, engineer... Amazing!

Link to the Video if the player fails to load Patricia Mawuli

BUILDING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

The Girls were in one of the local camps today teaching them how to purify their drinking water through the use of SODIS (Solar Disinfection). This lesson for the local community is to alert them, on how to improve on their health in regards to clean drinking water. The idea behind letting the local Girls teach their own people is so that, they can relate to the Girls easily, which leads to long term sustainability. Our long term goal is to impart the knowledge that Medicine on the Move team have, to others in need, since they will take pride in what they are doing to help their own future. The Girls love this idea of teaching people. They enjoy it , this is where their joy comes from.

ANOTHER TERM HAS BEGUN

A busy term has begun for the AvTech Girls; they have received a female teacher who is focusing on creative writing with them. Since they all began their term with writing their own stories after they had read Jonathan Livingston Seagull, written by Richard Bach. The Girls started their term with great energy and enthusiasm, because the book they read, talks about hard work and determination being the key to success. They all came up with their own brilliant seagull stories. Rachelle who is working closely with them on improving their writing skills, gave them a vocabulary to memorize and get familiar with how to spell it. The word was (SUPERCALIFRAGILLISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS), the girls loved the new word that sounded nice and is encouraging them to work hard on their writing skills and to be able to interact with other people professionally. This week, they are going through the Rotax 912iS engine manual since we have one arriving soon. The Girls are finding the project very interesting because is opening new opportunity to them, which no other institution on the Continent offers to their Students at this stage. They are looking forward to the engine’s arrival.

Ghana’s Female Pilots Are Ready for Takeoff

Read and listen to the latest VOA interview.

Completion of 9G ZAG

This has been an exceptionally busy week at the Airfield - engineering has taken precedence as we needed to get 9G ZAA back to service. Her engine was beyond economic repair, and we had a low hours engine ready to swap over, and then 9G ZAG, a plane built by the girls at AvTech for a project in Techiman, also needed to complete its test programme ready for delivery this weekend.

One of the wonders of the Rotax carburetted engines is 'carb-balancing' - it requires patience and a team ready to hold the plane back as we go through the engine settings checking for variations in manifold pressure, and adjusting to get them as close as possible for smoooth running at low revs and optimum responsiveness.

Rachelle got to hold back a plane for the first time, and Patricia was at the controls managing the manometers and throttle settings, girls held the planes, worked the external power (to avoid draining the battery with many starts) and all assisted with the micro-adjustments at the carb sides.

My best flying day

Another day of very good flying with the Avtechacademy girls
I have been flying and teaching many different people but
today, the girls did so well.
They did what we call pragmatic navigation only by map and compass.

The new TV star

Lydia today,was on tv sharing her experience with other young people who are looking to doing something that is very life changing, satisfying and inspiring people through ONE flight.

Lydia for the first time in many spoke really well with very good personal confidence.

The easter break

The girls are on a short break for easter and after that, they will have three weeks of placement with WAASPS before school officially resumes.

Flying weekend

It was very booked weekend and the girls were very alert in the tower, keeping an eye their traffic in the circuit ensuring safe operations at the airfield.

The girls are looking forward to nice calm day for their lessons.

Carburator servicing

It was a very busy day and the girls were involved in servicing a pair of carburator for our old baby
The girls thoroughly enjoyed the service and have requested to carry our more when the time comes

I have to say, this is the first time my girls have been so enthusiastic about a carburator servicing.

END OF TERM EXAMS

Is the end of term exams today for the AvTech girls and they are sitting the exams hall with smiles on their faces writing the exams.

during times like this, all the girls become very quite and are only friends their pen and paper for the duration of the exams.

I wish the girls all the best of luck in their exams.

PINGING DROP

Today, the girls helped prepare the pinging drops for the new medicine on the targeted communities

The mission was successful and some of the communities that received the drops have already started contacting the medicine on the move team

Is the end of term exams tomorrow and girls are all studying hard and preparing for the exams starting at 06:00 tomorrow morning

Today was a flying

Hamattan is back again.

The visibility was not very good for training the girls but as though it was not good for training for the girls, they still learnt something in the tower in radio telephony.

Certified Wilderness First Responders

Rex and Melissa not only came to boost our moral, help out with Fly Me Day and support our Bag-Drop operations, there was another REALLY important part of this trip.

Melissa is a fully qualified Wilderness EMT and able to teach Wilderness First Responder Courses, the same course that Michaela and Ben completed in readiness for coming out here. The basic idea of the Wilderness Training is that 'more than just basic first aid is needed in the rural areas, especially if you are more than one hour from a hospital or clinic', which is, of course, the case for many here in Ghana.

Melissa led an intense training programme for Patricia and the AvTech girls, with Michaela and Ben as co-trainers. Melissa is our designated examiner for the Medicine on the Move courses called 'Rural Community Health Education and First Responder', a pre-requisite for going out on a training programme with MoM. In addition the girls also covered 'Adult/Child CPR / Airway management'. Not only was the training intense, the practical assessments were rigorous, with three scenarios that were remarkably lifelike and incredibly intense.

I have participated in a lot of similar training, but what these girls went through was far more detailed, and their ability to learn surprised even me! One of the best bits of applied learning was the 'patient assessment' with the aim of being able to call or radio in the status of a patient. Of course, I was asked to be blood-pressured, pulse taken and more four times! They all did what they should with a professionalism that any Matron would be proud to have on their team
All of the girls are now far more equipped than most to handle a range of emergency situations that could occur at any time - and I am incredibly proud of all of them!

Here we see the girls with their training crew - and they all deserve a massive round of applause. Behind them you can see the nearly complete clinic building, currently moving very slowly towards to completion, due to financial constraints - but once it is completed, these girls will be ready not only to use their skills but to pass them on, through the training centre to be attached to the clinic, for the designated health reps in the communities, all part of the ETCHE-Air Drop health education programme that we are embarking upon in earnest!

practical exams

We have all passed our practical exams on first aid.

We are all now qualify to carry out patient assessment should the time arise.

First Respondent Training

Today was a very busy one with the continuation of our first aid training with Melissa

The training today included CPR for child and adults, wound management, splinting and shock.

Everybody thoroughly enjoyed the training.

fly me day

The fly me day was very successful and everything went according to plan.

We flew a total of one hundred and twenty four students before the bad weather came.

Preparing for fly me day

The girls today, were heavily involved with the prep work for fly me day tomorrow.

They will be responsible for bringing passengers to the four different planes participating.

They will also be having some interviews from the media that will be available for the day.

EMT training

We have all just started our EMT training at the airfield being lead by Melissa and Michaela

The ladies gave us few scenarios for practice

We are yet to cover CPR.

Hard working girls

This week, the girls have been have been involved with repair work on the runway

Melissa and I were moving dirt in the kia truck for filling in the holes.

Teaching Nutrition

The girls were tasked with coming up with a balanced meal for a teenager who has anemia.

Here is Juliet's report and suggested menu.


Name: Juliet Kuruwaa
Title: Balance meal
Date: 7th of March, 2012

Problem To Solve

PLAN A BALANCED MEAL FOR A TEENAGED FEMALE WITH ANEMIA.
WHAT WOULD YOU COOK AND WHY?

SOLUTION

Based upon the situation above, I would cook brown rice with vegetable stew,( French beans, beef, egg, cabbage and carrots). I would also include a cup of soy milk and two mangoes as desserts.

A teenaged female with anemia may lack iron and blood. The reason for choosing this meal is that, the meal contains the following nutrients.

v     I chose rice because it contains minerals like Iron and Vitamins like folate/folic acid which help in the production of red and white blood cells. This is because a teenager with anemia would have low production of the above.

v     For a teenager with anemia, I have chosen beef, egg and French beans which have high nutritional value in minerals like calcium which helps in providing of cell walls and strong bones. And also rich in vitamins like B6 because it helps in the production of antibodies in the immune system.

v     A teenager with anemia will need cabbages and carrots which have minerals like Potassium to ensure maintenance and body growth and vitamins like Vitamin A which helps the vision and maintains the skin, hair and mucous membranes.

v     Mangoes are good for a teenager with anemia, because it contains minerals like manganese which helps in enzymes reaction, good metabolism of food and have good sugar. It also contains Vitamin C which protects the body tissues from the damage of oxidation and produce antioxidants as to protect the cells against the free radicals.

v     A teenaged anemic would need soy milk, which is highly nutritional in minerals like Phosphorus that promotes and strengthens the bones, teeth and nerve cells. And also has Vitamin B1 which helps in the production of energy for the body.

 

INGRIENTS	NUTRIENTS	FUNCTIONS	MINERALS	VITAMINS
Rice-Brown	Carbohydrates	Give you energy	Potassium Phosphorus Manganese Iron Sodium Magnesium Zinc Copper	Vitamin(thiamine) B1 Vitamin(riboflavin) B2 Niacin Pantothenic Acid Vitamin B6 Folate
Beef, egg and French beans	Protein and fats	Helps the body to grow and repair itself; fats help provide energy and help building up your body	Potassium Phosphorus calcium Manganese Iron Sodium Magnesium Zinc Copper selenium	Vitamin(thiamine) B1 Vitamin(riboflavin) B2 Niacin Pantothenic Acid Vitamin B6 Folate Vitamin B12 Vitamin D Vitamin E Vitamin K
Cabbage and carrots	Vegetables	Help digest food; Stimulate immune system; Help vision; Help in formation of hormones; Promote bone grow	Potassium Phosphorus calcium Manganese Iron Sodium Magnesium Zinc Copper selenium	Vitamin(thiamine) B1 Vitamin(riboflavin) B2 Niacin Pantothenic Acid Vitamin B6 Folate Vitamin A Vitamin C Vitamin E Vitamin K
Mango	Fruit and sugar	Good for skin, bone and teeth; Prevent diseases; Avoid constipation	Potassium Phosphorus Manganese calcium Iron selenium Sodium Magnesium Zinc Copper	Vitamin A Vitamin C Vitamin E Vitamin K Vitamin(thiamine) B1 Vitamin(riboflavin) B2 Niacin Pantothenic Acid Vitamin B6 Folate
Soy milk	Dairy	Produce red blood cells; Provide adequate oxygen supply to the body.	Potassium Phosphorus calcium	Vitamin B1 Vitamin B2

Practice Exams

Today, the Girls did their practice written exams in preparation towards their solo.

The Girls performed very well and got over 80% of the questions right.

Blog by Lydia

When I started learning to fly, I was flying in the two seater tube and cloth plane, On the 25th of February 2012 I was sent into the two seater all metal plane, because in the tube and clothe plane, my arm was short and I couldn't get to the joystick with my right arm and I was unable to reach the instrument panel to turn the key and to switch on the mags, so I was moved into the metal plane and it is now perfect for me with the instruments panel because my right arm could reach the joystick, the throttle and other controls.

I had my lesson in the aircraft by registration Alpha Foxtrot. It was not easy to fly in, the controls were a little bit sensitive for me to handle so I needed to practice more on how to handle that in a much more co-ordinated manner with my arms and feet. I had been able to fly the aircraft in the directions I needed and need to practice straight and level in order to make things easier for me. I sat in the left seat and Jonathan sat in the right seat of the plane, we did some Touch and Gos, I was very happy for the time I was given in AF because I enjoyed flying her.

Tractor Repair reports

Juliet and Emmanuella have written shop reports on their tractor repair work.

Emmanuella's report

Juliets Report

Hydraulic work

Changing of the hydraulic pump

Date 22/02/2012
Time 08:00am
Location Hanger three
Materials Grease, Gasket, marker pen, O-ring, Washers and Bolts
Equipment 16mm Spanner, Ratchet and Robber Mallet
Roles

Zaen The instructor of the task.
Emmanuella The assistance in cleaning the hydraulic tank, watching and writing.
Juliet Taking photographs, cleaning and watching.
Lydia The assisting with bringing tools, cleaning of the differential hydraulic and some parts of the tractor.

Procedure: At the beginning of the work, Zaen talked about what we would be doing on the tractor concerning the hydraulic pump. The reason why the old hydraulic pump was being changed was that, the teeth of the Bering had chewed and no longer functioning as it should so it needed to be changed.



Working on a tractor is almost the same as working on an aircraft, something like this not everybody that has the interest for it, somebody like Zaen has the experience for fixing a tractor hydraulic pump and it would be very easy for him because he had the passion for it and he does not just have the knowledge for one thing but has it for most things and he has the interest for them.

The tractor was clean with a clean rag, after the cleaning, the chair was removed, bolts and nuts were also removed from the hydraulic pump, and we tried hard to raise the deferential up from the pump. The hydraulic oil was drain underneath the gear pump, the inside of the oil tank was clean after the oil has been drained. The inside was checked for debris and it was clean, we covered it for some days searching for a new Bering.

This is the old hydraulic pump and the Bering.







The groove of the tank where the gasket goes was greased and sealed with a gasket, it was covered with the deferential and afterwards the hydraulic oil went back into the tank.



The new hydraulic pump and the Bering were set back on the tractor and had been tighten with 16mm spanner.




Observation: We were happy when we finished with the work and the tractor went back into service.

Outcome: It was working perfectly.

Special day

I took Emmanuella and Juliet flying this morning...

It was a very good weather for circuits and the two Girls did brilliantly.
They all know their checks, all procedures and everything on their finger tips.

When we got back, Lydia wanted to go flying too, but I said to her that she has to wait to fly in AF since she is a special case.
She was running out of patient and then she realised, is really true she going to fly in the very nice PLANE.The other Girls flew in the old baby of the field

She can operate the throttle, stick and even the flaps with NO problem. Well done Lydia.

Here is Lydia in the beautiful GIRL.

100 hour sevice

When we do the 100 service, or any service, we do so according to a servicing checklist. At WAASPS there is a standard, generic form that has to be completed... here it is partly completed. It will be completed at the test flight.

The Girls doing a 100hr service

So the Girls are going to be working on AE today.

They are going to be doing a hundred hour service and I will be bringing more details on that soon.

Stay with us...

they took the servicing seriously and everyone of them being very proactive in that workshop making things happen as they should be.

Engineering

The girls today were involved with putting a new hydraulic pump on the Airfield tactor that was grounded about a month ago.

We are not far from making it work again.

CBT

The ladies did more work with computer based training.

The lesson this week, is focusing human performance and limitations.

Story by Juliet K

Morning came, with the beautiful sun rise from the east. People started to plan for the day. Students prepared for school. Drivers started their cars early for start of the day. Trusty said, I was getting ready for school when I heard a big sound which went bang! People were shouting and calling many names and crying.

These sounds were heard right in front of my house. She got herself decent and went out. She found out that a car had knocked down one of her father’s cows. The cow died on the spot but the driver was severely injured. The driver was brought out to a secure place and first aid was provided to him before taking him to the hospital for medical assistance. As the victim was being taking care of by the first Aiders, the rest of the people who came to help also made sure that, they inspected the car for injured parties and other things which are valuable to some of family involved. The police arrived and did some measurements as part of their investigation. They found out that, the driver was not wearing seat belt, he was driving at high speed and did not check if there were any obstacles or pedestrians on that side way. The police continued with their investigation and saw that, the driver was exceeding the speed limit of the road,120 km per hour on the street of the town was too much. The policemen went to the house of the driver to find out whether he was into drugs, alcohol or misunderstanding with the family before going out. It came to the notice of the policemen that, he had some upset with the family and so they believed that, the argument could be the cause of the bad incident. The policemen went away and Trusty went to school feeling very sad about what she saw.
When Ms Mercy saw her student Trusty sad, she approached her and asked what the problem was. Trusty narrated the story to Ms Mercy who was Trusty’s science teacher.

The madam told Trusty to have heart, and should always remember that, getting people distracted could cause an accident. Because the little mistake you do today could lead to a bigger accident tomorrow. The Science Teacher also said to Trusty that, she should always start her day in a happy mood. Things go wrong at homes, workplaces and other places when misunderstandings are not resolved. No matter how sick, how bad you feel or how cross you are, you should ever go to work or school with those bad expressions showing on your face. For instance, if you were to be in a company whereby your job is to receive visitors, do not say because you had a bad moment last night, you would not serve your customers and visitors well. When Trusty heard what the madam has said, she was lost for words and was surprised. Why was she surprised? Her mother has been telling her similar words anytime her mother was advising her.

Trusty’s mother was a flying doctor and she had been explaining to Trusty how accidents happen when it comes to flying. She made her daughter understood how safer it was to fly than to drive. But flying could be dangerous if safety measures are not put in place. For instance, when planning to fly, the runway to be used for take off and landing needs FODwalked (Foreign Object Debris walk). These are done because sometimes when you look at a runway in a distance, you will see that the tarmac or the grasses look neat but the moment you start to walk on it, you may be amazed at some of the things you may find on the runway. Some examples are; Dog, stones, eggs, cattle and human beings also crossing without permission from the authorities in charge of the field. FODwalk is done to get rid of all those things on the runway. Trusty’s mother also spoke to her about some of the checks she does on her aircraft. Again she does her flight plan as to where she would be flying to. She said that, she always communicates with the ATC at the particular airfield she would be starting her flying at. She is permitted to fly only VFR (Visual Flight Rules) because of that, she only flies into what she sees. Her weather condition is always taken into account. She did not only end there, but she continued to tell her daughter that, pilots plan their cross countries which is where they will be flying to. They do that, to enable them calculate how much fuel would be consumed, how long before getting to their destination.

Dr. Juliet Brown who was a flying doctor,who did a lot of mission flights to rural areas for humanitarian purposes. Knowing the great passion the woman had for humanitarian aviation, she wanted her daughter to have the same strong passion. Dr. Juliet Brown was pleading with her daughter because she was getting older and was losing the strength to work and wanted someone to replace her. She wanted someone who was ready to do humanitarian work. Fortunately enough, she was a flying instructor. She taught her daughter how to fly ultra light aircraft since those types were appropriate for the mission flying. She was trained on how to fly an aircraft by registration 9G-ZAF which was normally shortened as AF.

The reason for using these aircraft was that, it was good in doing STOL (short take and landings) operations. It was also good in doing bush landings. Furthermore, most of these deprived villages have short runways but with this kind of aircraft, and with an experienced qualified pilot, you can achieve STOL. One of the most important things was that, the aircraft was using Rotax 912UL engine. These type of engine burns 15 litres per hour. It can go as high as 10,000feet. It flies below that, because she was operating at VFR and passed 10,000feet, human begin to suffer from hypoxia. It ranges from 140 to 160 km per hour. AF was sprayed with red and white colour because these colours symbolised emergency or Red Cross. This was because the aircraft was purposely built for humanitarian purposes. Dr.Juliet Brown bought the plane for Trusty to help her fly to rural areas with health personnel to give the people in the villages’ basic health education. Many flights took place and guess what happened…

As Trusty was doing her pre-flight for her first solo, she noticed that one of the wires joining the oil pressure sensor gauges was torn. She went for a pair of wire stripper, she stripped the plastic insulator. She kept the copper wires neat to avoid electrocution. She reconnected them to have a working sensor gauge to avoid inadequate reading from the gauge. As Trusty did her checks, she asked for clearance from ATC, she took off and did several circuits. Finally she was cleared to land on runway 19. She has always kept in her mind about checking the runway for obstacles before landing. She turned on final, as she continue her approach and the plane was descending, she saw a cat run from nowhere crossing the runway to the other side of the field. Immediately, she added power and climbed out again. She finally did one circuit and landed safely. She did many more solos and did her written examination. Trusty passed her examination and had her license to fly. Since that time, Trusty took her mother’s position and did a lot of mission flight. Every flight made to rural areas, she made sure, she donates many things which cost more than $1,300.

All these dreams were achieved by hard work and the help of
some generous people. Trusty flew to many villages and

Changed lives one flight at a time.

Story by Emmanuella

These are words Emmanuella chose.

Judith, Kpong, Joycelin, Kumasi, 500 cedis,Orange, Green, Banku, Rice, Brain, Leg, AF.

Once upon a time, there lived a girl called Judith. She lived in a town named Kpong. Judith lived closer to a friend of her’s by name Joycelin, who attended the same school with her in the township of Kpong.

One day, the two girls planed to have a tour to the Kpong Airfield facility and if possible to take a flight in one of their planes to Kumasi on excursion. When they got to the Airfield, they looked at all the different planes and decided to take their flight in one of the planes by registration 9G-ZAF to Kumasi air port. Before the girls got on board the Aircraft, the pilot asked them whether they have ever been on a small plane before organizing such an excursion by air.

Immediately they replied we had already make enquires some few months back before expediting the journey. When the flight was about to depart, the girls asked of the invoice for their flight to Kumasi and the pilot told them it will cost GH¢ 500 each way. During the flight, Joycelin told her friend that, she could see some body from the air in a bright orange and green dress.

After they got to their destination, the plane landed and the girls came out, and they were starving. At that moment, the girls rush to the near by appetizing restaurant at the Kumasi air port.
Due to much hunger, Joycelin had placed an order for an enormous banku with okro stew. So Judith said well since her friend has ordered her favourite then, she will like a plate of decorated jollof rice and grilled guinea fowl, also some rice pudding. After they had finished eating and continuing their adventure, it was time for them to be back home before night fall. When they were returning home, Judith approach the pilot to find out how one could achieve their dreams of becoming a pilot. The pilot answered her in chorus. If you want to be a pilot, you need to take your Maths, Science, English and Geography seriously and at least you should have completed senior high school. Judith said by the way my friend and I are studying pure Science. So when they got home, they started going to extra classes that will enable to learn more and to prepare them towards achieving their dreams since the Pilot enlightened them about the steps to be coming a Pilot. At the classes, they were taught about the human body which comprises of the brain and the leg. After they had finished their duties at home, in the evening, they went to a restaurant to have dinner and met the pilot - they told him what they were taught at the classes today. Based on that, the pilot said that it was very brilliant that the girls were already ahead of the game. Because, when you are taking flying lessons, there is a topic called human performance and limitation which talks about the human body too. These include the human brain and the leg as well. The girls were so vibrant and would appreciate to have more lessons on the human body. The next day at the class, the two girls were having a conversation with their teacher based on how essential the human body is when it comes to flying. Their teacher was itching to learn more about how the human body is related to flying. At this time, the girls were telling him what the pilot told them about the human body and how healthy one has be, before flying. Their teacher was so happy due to how intelligent his students are when it comes to learning and they are ready to find out more even outside the classroom in order to broaden their knowledge about new things in life.

He told them to keep up their enthusiasm and hard work because that will expose them to a bright future.

More stories from the Girls

This time, the Girls have chosen their own words to write stories with.
Here are the words that Lydia chose.

Green, AF, Emmanuella, Juliet, Tema, Tractor, Goat, Cow, Runway 01, 500km, Walk.


A story by Lydia about Emmanuella Johnson and Juliet
Stewart.


There was a girl called Emmanuella Johnson who always looks after cows and goats. When the dry season came Emmanuella-J decided to make an expedition with her tractor to where she has been sending the animals to eat, to mow the grasses so that new green grass could grow for the animals to eat. The place was very far, like 500km, away from her house. One day Emmanuella-J wanted to travel to Tema when she finished dressing herself, she has to walk 3km to the road side to take a car. She got to the road side took a trotro, when she got into the trotro she met a new friend called Juliet-S. Emmanuella J asked her what she does, and she told her she was a pilot. Emmanuella-J asked her the type of plane she flies, and she told her she flies ultra-light aircraft. Emmanuella-J asked a lots of question concerning flying and if possible could she also learn to fly. Juliet- S told her she is always welcome.

Emmanuella-J got to where she wanted to alight she got down and Juliet S told her “see you soon when you come there bye” Emmanuella-J went to Tema because she was training on a course that consisted of how to take care of animals. The training went on very well. After she has completed with her training, she thought of how to get to her friend Juliet- S, so she took a taxi from Tema to Kotoka International Airport. When she got there, she asked the security man about Juliet-S and the security man asked her if she had an appointment, and she said affirm. He went and called Juliet-S for her. She came out and asked Emmanuella-J what she would like to do. Emmanuella-J said she would love to fly to Kumasi and back. Juliet-S sent her to one of the aircraft called Alpha Foxtrot (AF). When she sent her near the plane, she was so excited and said I love the colour of this plane. She taught her how to do the checklist, they checked the cockpit for key off, mags off, fuselage, elevator, horizontal stabilizer, fin, wings, pins, wires, wheels, engine and windshield. After they did all these checks they signed the paperwork. Emmanuella-J got into the right seat of the plane and Juliet-S sat on the left seat of the plane, as the pilot. They did a radio communication call to the tower, that is to the Air Traffic Controller (ATC). The pilot asked the KIA tower, “Niner Golf Zulu Alpha Foxtrot (9GZ-AF) radio check and start-up”
“ 9GZAF you are clear to start-up at your own discretion, runway in use is 01 QNH is 1013 wind speed is 12kts KIA tower”
“ Copy your information QNH is 1013, taxing to runway 01, copy your information 9GZAF”
When they were on the runway 01 they went through their list again, from there the pilot added full power and took off. At 1000ft above the ground they turned left heading Kumasi in the Ashanti region. It was very amazing flight for Emmanuella.
The end.

Here is the story by lydia

Story by Lydia

It was a bright Friday morning; Ama would be travelling with her mother to a town called kar. The same day Ama was invited to a training center. She sensed to organise some navigational equipment because the training consist of flying. As they were going, Ama said could smell something peculiar. During this time, their driver was far asleep and collided with some other car and the driver of that Car was stunned immediately and some parts of the car also got broken and crumpled. The car caught fire and had a big explosion due to the build of pressure in the fuel line and the cylinder. It was an unexpected disaster because it destroyed many people s’ farm produce that they had for the whole year in order to feed their family. Ama was so lamented when she saw the car burnt. Now she had an idea about the sort of formula to use so as to get to her appointment on time. She decided to use a motor cycle since this will enable her to weave around the traffic with no hassle. She made it to the training centre at two minutes past her appointment time. When the car had the accident earlier, the driver was marooned to the very far end of a nearby forest. The training centre is the magnificent building in that community so everybody try to make the most out when ever they have an opportunity given to them just like the one given to Ama. After she had closed from the training centre, there is a water falls due north of the town and she decided to make an expedition to that place because she had heard that, the water falls has been in existence for so many centuries. Ama did one orbit around the water falls just to be able to see all the details around the falls since so many people make their own story about that particular falls. She stayed there and swam until the night when the moon and galaxies were out making sky shine like is daytime adding more interest to her adventure. She had a fantastic moment at the water falls. That was the most fan she had ever had in her entire life and she went away with a lot of happy memories and a lot of stories to tell to all her friends.

Supporting HIV Orphans and Vulnerable Children

As today is celebrated as Valentines or Chocolate Day, in Ghana, the Manya Krobo Queen Mothers Association celebrates this day with loving and caring for the people that are dear to us. The MKQMA loves and cares for over 1000 orphans and vulnerable children through care in the community.

The AvTech Girls were invited to share their experience and give inspirational words to the school children from both lower and upper Manya District, so as for them to let them know that through hard work and determination, one could become successful in life.

They talked about what they do at the Academy including flying, building planes and maintaining the Aeroplanes.

Bags of Pasta were given to each child to take home for their family, to help with their feeding. Thanks go to DFP for their generous support to this aspect of the Medicine on the Move programme that AvTech participates in.

The school children were very inspired after the little speech from the Girls.

Our Girls are fantastic inspirational speakers – getting ready to change lives, one flight at a time as they train as Pilot/Engineer/Health Educators – the future leaders of Ghana’s health outreach programmes to rural areas, such as the ones these children come from.

Unusual day

Today was not a straight-forward day, We cleaned the Generator,fetched 1000 litres of water for the plasters working on accommodation B3 and did some CBT (Computer Based Training)on HPL(Human Performance and Limitations).

Fire fighting

I guess many people get through their everyday life with everything going according to the plan of the day.

Today we woke up with the intention of getting things set up for flying once the visibility improves and guess what happened, we had to go fight a bush fire near the runway, other manoeuvring areas and the accommodation site.

Every body got involved for about four hours non-stop, controlling and putting the fire out. The Girls coordinated the activity. It tells you that, nothing ever goes according to plan in this part of our world.

Very well done Girls and keep up all the good work that you are doing.You are all ambassadors of the young people of Ghana.

Story by Juliet

A STORY BY JULIET KRUWA

In the 20th century, something happened on the planet earth. Some great men in those early days decided to build a machine which would be able to go into space. Because it was known that, there wasn’t any oxygen in space. They made up their minds to build an engine which could still operate in space without oxygen. They wanted the machine to be able to make an expedition into space without the space men putting much effort on controlling the rocket all times. The great men were trained as engineers on how to build rocket and rocket engine. They were specialised in both the manufacturing of the rocket and the rocket engine. Again, they went through massive training on how to make robots for going into space. They implemented many types of equipment for operating in space. They learned about the planets, their types, dangers and purposes of these planets in the space. Not only that, they learned about the atmosphere being a gaseous envelope surrounding a celestial body. The troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere were included in their studies. They did not exclude pressure, density of air and temperature differences in the above weather conditions. They learned much about the forces of gravity. It was explained to them how the earth orbit around the sun and the galaxies were in different colours and billions in number. They shine all times but mostly seen in the night. There are a lot of magnificent objects in the space. Some of these magnificent objects are the moon, the stars and many more. Those great men did many studies which contained formula as to how to launch the rocket in the space. During the designing and manufacturing of the engine, a lot of thought went in as to what gas to used because oxygen is absent in space. They created something in the engine called the cylinder to help combustion. They came up with the system of operating the engine known as the cycle of the four stroke engine. They are: induction, compression, combustion and exhaust. The engine was going to operate on the above principle, that is fuel and gas would be sucked into the cylinder. The fuel and gas would be mixed and compressed, a spark would be created. The mixed fuel and gas would be burnt and create a big bang, which is the combustion. The hot gases would then come out from the nozzle as explosion in a fire-like form to shoot the rocket upward. Due to the pressure and velocity at which the hot gases would be coming out with, the same velocity would be used in shooting the rocket into space. This principle would be achieved by using the Newton’s Third Law of Motion, which said: to every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. But in the case of poor planning, if bad fuel is put in the fuel tank, the dirt could block the fuel line to the engine. In the same way, if water finds itself way in the fuel line, the water can block the fuel line by freezing. It is known that temperature decreases with altitude. They also learned that, people could be stunned from shocks and also suffer from hypoxia if there is no oxygen. This person could be recovered by providing 100% oxygen to the victim. One should make sure that, oxygen breather hoses are not crumpled to avoid shortage of oxygen. They were taught about what to do and what not to do. For instances, any peculiar smell in the rocket should not be smelt to avoid people being stunned. After all these teachings, something unpleasant happened; they experimented on the first rocket and guess what happened. The equipment performing the first experiment crashed and was marooned on an island. The crashed rocket caused a big disaster, the rocket exploded and there was an uncontrollable fire on the island. After the first incident, they built a new rocket and completed the installing of their navigational equipment; they also installed detectors to be able to sense any danger. All these instruments were installed to avoid the rocket again crashing and properties and people being lamented. All broken equipment was fixed to promote smooth launch of the rocket for the research. The rocket looked very fantastic from the first time it was launched.