In early October, our counterpart organization Mano a Mano Aviation received a call about a young man that had been gored by a bull in Puerto San Lorenzo in the department of Beni, resulting in a chest puncture. We flew to San Andres (we were planning to fly to San Andres, which is nearby Puerto San Lorenzo, the following day to deliver supplies, and had already received approval for that flight), picked him up, and coordinated his ambulance transfer from the Mano a Mano hangar at Jorge Wilstermann airport to Hospital México in Sacaba, where he received immediate medical attention.
Emergency Flight From Beni to Cochabamba – Early October 2024
Mano a Mano Aviation Staff Visit the Mano a Mano Airport Under Construction in Punata
Earlier this month, Mano a Mano Aviation staff visited the Mano a Mano airport project currently under construction – and their future homebase.
Our counterpart organization Mano a Mano Nuevo Mundo broke ground on the airport terminal portion of the Mano a Mano airport project in Punata, Bolivia on August 28th, 2024. The runway will be paved and completed in the coming months, and construction of the hangar portion is also underway.
Training Courses at Mano a Mano Aviation for Staff – September
Continuing education, training, and maintenance are core components of our aviation program. In September, staff took part in courses/workshops at the Mano a Mano Aviation hangar at Jorge Wilstermann airport in Cochabamba related to: seguridad operacional (SMS), factores humanos, reglamentos RAB 145, RAB 43, Cessna 206, Piper Navajo, and Caravan 208.
Working With University of San Simon
The DISU (Dirección de interacción social universitaria, or University Social Interaction Department), part of the University of San Simon, created the group “Jornadas de Salud y Bienestar One Health, or One Health Health and Wellness Days.” In mid-September, the official launch of the group was made in which Mano a Mano will support the university (Paola was present at the launch representing Mano a Mano) in its Health Days programs and they will also join as volunteers in the jornadas that we organize as Mano a Mano Aviation. We have been working on expanding the number of volunteers and we are ready with several communities to provide jornadas once our plane completes some maintenance work.
Firefighting Supplies for Bolivia From Belgium
English translation of Mano a Mano Aviation’s Facebook post from October 2024:
“Thank you, Capi Ivo! Your legacy continues to protect lives. In September 2023 Firefighters for Bolivia “Belgium Branch” asked our captain Ivo Daniel Martinez Velásquez for help to bring to Bolivia a container full of inputs and supplies for firefighters collected in Belgium.
Our Capi Ivo, great admirer and friend of Firefighters for Bolivia, without hesitation for an instant put at his disposal all the experience and resources from Hand to Hand Air Support to make this dream come true, convinced that this material would make a difference in the work and the life of many firefighters across the country.
After a long journey, thanks to a joint effort of many entities and institutions, both the National Government and civil society (JTI International, Chamber of Industry), this container arrived in Bolivia and on Saturday, September 28, the Minister of Government and Bomberos para Bolivia – Brandweer voor Bolivia “Filial Bolivia” delivered hundreds of suits, boots, helmets and other equipment and accessories to various Police fire units and volunteer brigades, a 2 million dollars cooperation.
Our Capi Ivo is not with us to witness this great achievement, but his legacy of social and humanitarian service and his love for his land continues to bring us joy. Thank you very much, Capi Ivo, our Pilot of Hope.”
In Memory of Ivo Daniel Martínez Velásquez
All of Mano a Mano has been processing the tragic loss of Pilot Ivo Daniel Martínez Velásquez in a plane crash while flying his personal small acrobatic plane barely 3 months ago. Ivo worked with Mano a Mano Aviation for nearly 2 decades and was the lead pilot for more than a decade, personally flying hundreds of flights annually (and more than half of Mano a Mano Aviation’s flight hours).
- In Memory of Ivo Daniel Martínez Velásquez – June 29th, 2024
- Community of Laguna Sulti Holds Memorial Service for Pilot Ivo Daniel Martínez Velásquez
Ivo can never be replaced and will never be forgotten, but we are working to get back to the mission of Mano a Mano Aviation to consistently provide emergency flights, weekend health clinics, and transport of cargo to isolated Bolivian communities.
