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Team focus ...

Today we visit a town situated on a 30 square kilometre lagoon of the Mhlatze River in KwaZulu-Natal – Richards Bay; which gives it one of the country’s largest harbours. Fitness fanatic Brad Kinsey who knows the dirt roads pretty well of Richards Bay, is one of the organisation’s helicopter pilots. Here’s a look into his life…

How long have you been with AMS? “Next month it will be five years! When I first joined AMS I don’t think anybody thought I’d last this long in the Bay! Coming from Jozi to the Bay…that’s a big change!”

Tell us about yourself: “I was born in Jo’burg and lived there all my life until moving to Richards Bay which took three years before it was actually official. So a lot of travelling up and down between home and work! I’ve always wanted to be a pilot, first the thought of Boeings, then the teenage years hit with the thought of fighter jets and then a helicopter flip changed all of that… I was sold, helicopters it will be! Then I saw the price tag for a licence…ummmm… ok!! I worked for National Airways Corporation (NAC) as an apprentice for a year after school which just made me more determined to fly but the price tag just became bigger so I decided to go study B.Com Sports Management at Rand Afrikaans Unoversity (RAU). During my degree I also did a personal training certificate and as I was finishing up my degree I started working as a trainer. As my personal training business grew I was able to start my pilot training with Henley Air at Rand Airport and eventually became a pilot! Whoohoo!! I worked for Matrix and Cartrack building my flying hours on night shifts while making people sweat and curse during the day until the opportunity to work for AMS came along.”

Were you in any other trade before? “I was a Personal Fitness Trainer for about 12 years.”

If you could master one skill you don’t have right now, what would it be? “For some reason the financial markets have appealed to me for a while now so I’d like to master the art of Trading!”

What do you do in your spare time? “Surprise, surprise…I love my gym!

I enjoy mountain biking as well, so all the dirt roads in the Bay’s forests are well ridden! I am a spinning instructor at the Richards Bay Virgin Active so I still get to scream (“motivate”) at people while they sweat it out! I also enjoy cooking…a little contradicting to the above!”

What is the one thing about you few people know? “It doesn’t look like it now but I received SA colours for natural bodybuilding when I was a junior… waaaaaayyy back in the day!!”

What do you enjoy most about your job? “Paperwork…I love paperwork! Said nobody, EVER! It doesn’t happen often for the Bay pilots but I really enjoy the few hot responses we get from time to time…it makes my blood rush!”

What is on your bedside table? “A lamp…but it’s more about what’s inside the draws…”

If you could have dinner with five famous people from history, who would they be? “Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Aniston. Oh yes and Jennifer Aniston!”

What was your first thought when you woke up this morning? “I didn’t think…it takes about two hours to realise I’m actually awake.”

What has been the happiest day of your life? “There have been a few… Going Solo for the first time…I’m sure a lot of pilots would agree! Receiving South African colours for bodybuilding. Winning an overall category in joBerg2C (9 day mountain bike stage race-900kms) Buffalo category in 2014 & 2015.”

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be? “Well… I am doing my lifelong dream of flying choppers but I recon been a killer trader would be a good job…dangerous but a bit of a rush! Maybe a pro mountain bike cyclist too!”

What is your greatest indulgence? “Woolworths Mint Choc Ice-cream!! That stuff is dangerous! And chocolate! Evils for a personal trainer! So my cheat days are big…really big!”

What is the one thing, you can’t live without? “Exercise and ice-cream! I confuse my poor body!”

Best piece of advice anyone ever gave you? “Not to have expectations. Set your own standards and goals but not to have expectations! (That comes from my girlfriend, Chanelle).”

Any motto you live by? “It takes courage to push yourself to places you’ve never been before…to test your limits…to break through barriers…You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret! Pick a side…”

Meet our team ...

Emergency Care Practitioner (ECP), Ruth Lackay is the newest addition to the Cape Town base team. Ayesha’s partner – as Ruth refers to herself has been with the organisation for one month and three days. She brings with her a wealth of experience gained working in Namibia, Madagascar, Afghanistan and Somalia to mention a few. Here’s what she has to say …

Tell us about yourself: “I was born in Somerset West, grew up in Firgrove/ Macassar. I studied at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), grateful it’s over!”

Were you in any other trade before? “I was a bartender at a golf course in Somerset West.”

What's the best/worst thing to happen since you started for AMS? “Meeting Lindsey, after all she’s the AMS mascot and working with an exceptional group of highly skilled professionals…ESPECIALLY Ayesha!”

If you could master one skill you don’t have right now, what would it be? “Eat without gaining weight…”

What do you do in your spare time? “Watch Nickelodeon, Sponge Bob mostly…I’ve discovered Telemundo in Somalia so I normally flip between breaks.”

What is the one thing about you few people know? “My third name is Grace.”

What do you enjoy most about your job? “Having Jeffrey Persens (fixed wing pilot) mock me.”

What is on your bedside table? “Bedside lamp…and some anti-wrinkle cream to remove the three lines on my forehead after almost five years of sun damage in Afghanistan.”

If you could have dinner with five famous people from history, who would they be? “Albert Einstein, Alexander Graham Bell, TUPAC (I’m not too sure if Jonno might agree), Martin Luther King Jr. and Muhammad Ali.”

What was your first thought when you woke up this morning? “Where am I…?”

What has been the happiest day of your life? “EVERYDAY I’m happiest because I’m very blessed.”

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be? “A farmer…I have no idea why.”

What is your greatest indulgence? “CHOCOLATE…I know I know I know, it’s bad for my health…I’ll schedule a dentist appointment ASAP.”

What is the one thing, you can’t live without? “Faith…there’s a higher power, no matter what your belief structure… wait my husband, if I don’t mention him and he reads this I’m sure he’ll have an issue.”

Best piece of advice anyone ever gave you? “Take your time…you’ll know when you’re ready (most things in my life).”

What animal best represents you and why? “Wolf…google it, but mostly cause of its relentlessness… I can function in a pack, but can lead if needs be.”

Any motto you live by? “Today might be your last…laugh uncontrollably, life is so damn short to be dreaming…instead live your dreams, if not…work hard until you’re able to live those dreams.”

Meet our team

Sybrandt Venter, helicopter pilot based at the AMS Richards Bay base is the newest addition to the AMS family. Here’s a look into the world of a man who once was a comic performer …

Tell us about yourself: “I was born in the Blue Bull country, Pretoria and eventually matriculated in Lydenburg. I lived on a farm about 30 km outside of town. I started flying when I was 19 years old, which is 10 years ago this year.”

What do you do at AMS? “I am flying helicopter for AMS.”

Were you in any other trade before? “I briefly had a career as Chico the Clown in Spur while I was in high school. I decided to move up in the world and worked as a wedding DJ before I started flying.”   

What is the best/worst thing to happen to you since you started working at AMS? “Best: I REALLY enjoy my job! Worst: Can’t think of anything.”

If you could master one skill you don’t have right now, what would it be? “Piloting a submarine.”

What do you do in your spare time? “I love doing research on world events/ financial markets. I study part time; BSc Mathematics and Economics.”

What is the one thing about you few people know? “I like pink drinks.”

What do you enjoy most about your job? “I enjoy making a difference in the world.”

What is on your bedside table? “A Bible and usually a cell phone charger.”

If you could have dinner with five famous people from history, who would they be? “Robert Kiyosaki, George Washington, Winston Churchill, General George S. Patton and John F Kennedy.”

What was your first thought when you woke up this morning? “I have to write this reply to Venessa!”

What has been the happiest day of your life? “The day I met Lana, my fiancé.”

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be? “I’m torn between a Submarine Captain and an Alaskan crab fisherman.”

What is your greatest indulgence?  “I LOVE Tim Tams with coffee. (Google it...)”

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

Best piece of advice anyone ever gave you? “Never stop learning, always be teachable.”

What animal best represents you and why? “Leopard, I’m shy. I like eating a rooibok every now and then.”

Any motto you live by? “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Edmund Burke

Little cobra victim visits aero-medical team

Three year old Anina Mostert, is physically back to her normal chirpy self after she was bitten by a Cape cobra on the 4^th of February while taking an afternoon nap in her room with her mom on a farm outside Citrusdal.

Anina Mostert (then two years old) was airlifted by the Western Cape Department of Health EMS/AMS rescue helicopter from Citrusdal Provincial Hospital to Tygerberg Hospital after she was bitten thrice  (twice in the face and once behind her head) by a Cape cobra who made its way into their home during a hot summer’s day. Anina was admitted to the Children’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Tygerberg Hospital and later transferred to High Care. She was in hospital for ten days, but unfortunately had to return to Paarl Provincial Hospital just two days after being discharged. The snake bite had formed an abscess and had to be drained.

Besides a small physical scar below Anina’s jaw line there are no other physical scars left of this horrible incident. Anina is a brave little girl. “Emotionally we still have a long road to walk, but we take it one day at a time” said Benita Mostert, Anina’s mother.

Anina visited the AMS base to thank the aero-medical team who transported her. She truly is a bright little girl who creeps into your heart. She soon warmed up to the crew and enjoyed spending time with the team who looked after her while being airlifted.  “We are grateful that Anina has made a full recovery and that she is alive, thank you to everyone who had helped us along this journey. We have learnt so much from this ordeal, Anina talks about the incident and what happened to her which makes one believe that she was awake after the second or third bite. The fear of what happened and what you possibly dodged stays with you as a parent, we know with time the emotional damage will get better” concluded Benita Mostert.

We have been informed that Anina is back at school this week and is adjusting well to her new environment. We wish her and parents well on this emotional journey.

The AMS in partnership with the Western Cape Department of Health Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provides an emergency rescue and air ambulance to the community of the Western Cape via a fleet of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.