Head Office

Team Focus

The AMS’ commitment to training and development of individuals within the organisation and the broader community, has seen the organisation establish and implement work experience programmes for unemployed Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) learners with the aid of the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA). This formal programme is also entered into with the False Bay College. Thembakazi Qokolo is currently a candidate in this programme under going her practical training within our organisation. The objective of the work experience programme is to provide practical training for Thembakazi within her field of study (ND: Management Assistant). Thembakazi has been with the organisation for just over three and a half months, here’s a look into her world …

Tell us about yourself: “I was born and raised in Cape Town, I matriculated in 2013. I took a bridging year in 2014 at South African Education Environment Project (SAEP). I am still busy with my Management Assistant Course which I started 2016 at False Bay College. After completion of my internship I hope to graduate in June 2019.”

Were you in any trade before? “I was a financial aid intern at False Bay College.”

If you can master one skill you don’t have right now what would it be? “Communication skills.”

What do you do in your spare time? “Bond with my younger sister.”

What do you enjoy about your job? “Right now I can say working in different departments. I am currently in the PR Department.”

What is on your bedside table? “A Bible and some books.”

What has been the happiest day of your life? “We travelled a lot during my bridging year at SAEP, so that will be the time.”

If you could do one other job for just one day what would it be? “Work in the Information Technology (IT) field.”

What is the one thing, you can’t live without? “My phone.”

Best piece of advice you can ever give someone? “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”

1 000 flying hours celebrated above clouds while saving lives

Nothing beats the feeling of being in the air for any pilot, this rings especially true for three AMS cadet pilots who all reached the amazing milestone of 1 000 flying hours at The SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service (AMS).

Jeffrey Persens, Lee Jacobs & Yusuf Vahed joined the organisation three years ago as cadet pilots in the AMS Cadet Pilot Development Programme. The Programme was established to develop young pilots, address the shortage of skills within the aero-medical field and in so doing boost the African Aviation industry. The objective of the programme is to train them on the high performance PC 12 and develop their skills and experience in a structured and controlled programme.

“At AMS we believe in investing in the future by developing skilled specialists and making a significant contribution to the aviation sector. We are especially proud of these three gentlemen who have shown commitment and dedication not only to their careers but to our organisation. The AMS Cadet Pilot Development Programme provides young cadets with the unique opportunity to build their knowledge and experience with access to industry leading training and dedicated staff.” said Dr Philip Erasmus, CEO of the AMS. 

Jeffrey Persens based at the Cape Town operation says “my only goal has always been to be a career pilot. I am that now at AMS. It has been a learning and growing experience, but more so, it was a journey of self-discovery.”

Lee Jacobs, cadet pilot currently based at the AMS Cape Town operation says “the programme improved my flying ability. I am grateful for the opportunity and will always remember the lessons I learnt through AMS.”

Yusuf Vahed, based at the AMS Durban operation recalls the day he reached his 1 000 hours: “My Captain on that day, Captain Chris Szechenyi jumped seats and told me, it’s your leg to fly. I always wondered where the moment of passing 1 000 hours would be. To be precise, it was on the base turn of Runway 35 into Mkuze. I asked for Full Flap and Final/landing checks, and Chris completed the checklist with and 1000 hours achieved – well done buddy!”

To date this programme has seen 18 cadets qualify and become fully fledged captains either within the organisation or taking up positions at the Airlines. Lethabo Vacu and Tony Tsonope are currently the two cadets in the programme. Cadets who join the programme needs to have a commercial licence, Instrument rating and 40hours multi-crew cooperation training. The programme exposes the cadets to high altitude flying routes and short-field landing and operating in and out of rural airfields.

Meet our Team

Today we introduce Leanne Adair, Cape Town base Emergency Care Practitioner (ECP) who has been with the organisation for seven months.  Here’s a look into her world…

Tell us about yourself: “I was born in Johannesburg, when I was two years old my family moved to a small town in the Eastern Cape called Kenton-on-sea. We spent a good few years there before moving to Port Elizabeth where I attended Erica Girls Primary school and then Collegiate Girls High school. I moved to Cape Town in 2011 to study. I spent the next six years in Cape Town where I completed the Emergency Care Technician (ECT) programme and then the Bachelor of Emergency Medical Care Degree (B-Tech). I moved back to the Eastern Cape and worked for a private emergency service in Port Alfred before moving back to Cape Town in September 2017 to join AMS.”

Were you in any other trade before? “I was a waitress for a couple of years to earn the big bucks, Lol!”

Why did you choose to join the AMS? “After working my first shift at AMS as a 4^th year BEMC student I was hooked. Who wouldn’t want to fly every chance they got? So, when the opportunity to work as a flight paramedic at AMS presented itself I grabbed it with both hands.”

If you could master one skill you don’t have right now, what would it be? “I would love to learn to play the guitar and the piano. I would really love to learn how to actually fly the aircraft we travel in on a daily basis.”

What do you do in your spare time? “I really enjoy spending time outdoors, I play hockey for Old Mutual hockey club, I try to run (I could try harder) and I’m partial to a good braai.”

What might someone be surprised to know about you? “That I am the definition of an arachnophobic!”

What do you enjoy most about your job? “With the fear of sounding cheesy there is very little that I don’t enjoy about working at AMS. I enjoy being able to help the communities we serve, the people I work with are great and we get to fly!”  

What is on your bedside table? “A bedside lamp, my phone charger, usually a good book and my Bible.”

If you could have dinner with five famous people from history, who would they be? “Although not world renowned or famous I would love to have another dinner with my grandfather. I’m sure he would have had the perfect answer to this question! And then obviously I would love to dine with Nelson Mandela.”

When your friends/family find out what you do, what do they say or ask? “So, do you actually get to fly the aircraft? Also, do you still get to drive an ambulance?”

What has been the happiest day of your life? “I try to make every day a happy day!”

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be? “I would love to be a musician and be able to sing.”

What is your greatest indulgence? “It’s a close competition between coffee and chocolate!! Shopping is a very close third.”

What is the one thing, you can’t live without? “Honestly, my family and friends (I know, that’s a lot more than one thing LOL).”

What is the one quality you feel best describes you? “Approachable.”

Best piece of advice anyone ever gave you? “I have been given a lot of really great advice throughout my life including “in a world where we can be anything, be kind”. Also, “sometimes we get in such a hurry that it becomes a part of us that we forget we don’t have to live that way”.

Do you have a life philosophy? “The cost of not following your heart is spending the rest of your life wishing you had so the trick is to enjoy life. Don’t wish away your days, waiting for better ones ahead”- Majorie Pay Hinckley.

Congratulations

We would like to congratulate Mervyn October for gaining his first Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) License with a B rating for aircraft structures. We are proud of you!