Safe on the ground after back-to-back ministry support flights, Robin and I carefully rolled open four of the 30-ft tall hangar doors, each weighing 400lbs. With the hangar open, we broke a sweat wrestling a 3600 lb. aircraft into position by hand. After a moment to catch our breath, we began to clean, check, inventory, refuel, and cover the aircraft. This is all part of the post-flight routine, so that …
ELT Battery Pack Replaced
The emergency location transmitter (ELT) is usually mounted in the aft section of an aircraft. In an emergency it can be activated manually by flight crew or automatically when subjected G-Forces from an off field landing. In either case, its ability to transmit your location is directly dependent on the condition of the battery. With few exceptions, aircraft worldwide are required to have an ELT. This device pinpoints your location …
It’s a Good Thing…Really!
After a 18 months of service, the tire on the left is worn to the limits of safe operation, and has been replaced with a new one. Aircraft tires are exposed to punishing rough surfaces, and hard braking with every landing on rural strips. Here at SGSP Aviation in the western highlands of Guatemala, its business as usual with one exception. There is a glaring empty spot on the shelf …
Make the Time!
Here at SGSP Aviation Ministries, at our base in the western highlands of Guatemala, we wear a variety of hats daily. Wearing my aircraft mechanic hat, I may be facing a single task or several separate tasks. Actually doing the work is the easy part, it’s the preparation and the finalization phases that demands discipline and time. Reviewing a work order, gathering equipment, prepares you for the actual work. …
Leave Nothing to Chance
In July, SGSP Aviation Ministries completed annual inspections on mission aircraft in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. Now it’s time to take a hard look at every piece of GSE. The goal is to clean, overhaul, service, and test every piece of gear. While it is true, you will not need GSE every day, it is also true that when that day comes, it will be on short notice and mission critical. Robin …
Try Not to Breath
The best helper in the world, Robin is happy to do her bit assisting during a recent annual inspection. A clean freak by nature, her attention to detail can make an engine compartment shine. I explained that industrial chemicals can really make short work of otherwise difficult cleanup tasks. On this day I introduced her to one such miracle chemical, Methyl Ethel Ketone (MEK), and mentioned in passing, that the …
One Last Detail
“We Give Wings to Good Works” is the God-inspired mission and vision of SGSP Aviation. Good aviation comes from giving even the smallest detail adequate attention. Before I kick the tires and light the fires, prayer is always the first and final detail.
It Only Takes a Spark (plug) to get a fire going…
Not long ago, I found myself on a short, rough airstrip with a deep ravine as you approach and depart. To make matters worse, it was a hot day in the mountains of Guatemala. With passengers, luggage, and cargo in place, SGSP Aviation Ministries was ready to go. But first, I took time for calculating takeoff distance once more just to be sure. As pilot-in-charge (PIC), I factored in aircraft …
Silence is Golden
Chuck & Robin return-to-base (RTB) at Quetzaltenango (MGQZ), after SGSP’s last scheduled ministry support flight of 2019. If you have been following posts throughout the year, Robin has been mastering new tasks and duties like fueling, aircraft marshaling, hangar management, and flight planning. She also enjoys the headset/intercom system when we fly, because it gives her a direct and uninterrupted line to my ears. This enables Robin to chat with …
Making Way for the New!
We’ve marked the calendar, our 13th year as aviation missionaries in Guatemala will soon begin so, It feels right that we prepare a place for 2020 to land. SGSP’s international directors, Chuck & Robin Martinez, will be stateside from mid December 2019 through mid January 2020. Would you like to know how mission aviation (aircraft) helps ministries and missionaries extend the reach of their good works? We will be happy …