In the jet age many have forgotten another type of flying machine whose pilots have braved the hinterland to send politicians, doctors and businessmen to the remotest corners of the interior to carry out special missions.
Skippered by brave and experienced pilots, these ‘unsung’ heroes have served Sarawak and its rural inhabitants since the establishment of Hornbill Skyways in 1977.
During the 1980s, the Hornbill Skyways Flying Doctor Service served many remote longhouse communities and villages, saving the seriously ill and pregnant mothers facing medical complications.
My maiden trip in a Hornbill Bell Ranger was in 1985 with then Kapit MP Datuk Justine Jinggut when we flew to a remote Kenyah-Badeng longhouse at Long Gang in Belaga — now submerged by the Bakun hydroelectric dam.
Being a newcomer, Captain Greg Lim, a former Malaysian rugby No. 8, took me for a joyride over the forest canopy above the surrounding hills covered with pristine jungle.
A year later in 1986 together with medical specialist Dr Andrew Kiyu, we rode with Captain James Wong on a mission to rescue a Swiss environmentalist who had contracted cerebral malaria — a strain which could cause multiple seizures leading to a coma and death if untreated.
We watched in trepidation as James skilfully spiralled down the perpendicularly narrow gap between the tall trees and landed on the rocky bank of the Magoh River in Ulu Baram.
Later I learnt that helicopter pilots are trained to face forced crash landings in hostile terrains.
Over the years I have developed great respect for Sarawak’s Bell helicopter pilots who come from the Iban, Bidayuh, Malay and Chinese communities.
Looking back I have had several hairy experiences, including one when we were caught in a storm and had to fly under the low-lying clouds and then along a narrow winding river to reach our destination.
Once in Bario, a former top politician, who had to attend a function in Miri on the same night, ordered the pilot to leave in the late evening, despite being told the risk was very high as the sky was getting darker by the minute.
As I sat next to the pilot, I said a quick prayer as I put on the pilot radio communication system, looked in the back compartment of the helicopter and noticed the VIP engrossed in his crossword puzzle.
It was a close call because caught in the eye of the storm, we were bounced around like toys. But we survived. For the record, Sarawak had 13 helicopter incidents since the establishment of Hornbill Skyways in 1977 — in which six of the 48 people killed were Bell pilots.
However, thanks to the skills of the pilots the lives of the 38 crash victims were saved.
Sarawak’s worst helicopter crash occurred on December 18, 1989 when an RMAF Nuri with 16 senior army officers and personnel crashed into the sea at Lundu, 110km from Kuching.
Among them were family friend General Officer Commander (GOC) of East Malaysia Maj. Gen. Mustaffa Awang and ‘commando’ Brig. Gen. Hasbullah ‘Bond’ Yusoff who was commander of the Third Infantry Brigade whom I had flown with in a Nuri four years earlier.
Another sad episode was the demise of all seven passengers on board a Bell 206 Long Ranger which crashed at the foot of Mount Murud better known as ‘Holy Mountain’ during a thunderstorm.
The day before the crash I had a ‘laksa’ breakfast with one of the victims, Deputy Speaker of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly Dr Judson Sakai Tagal, in Kuching. He was off to Kuala Lumpur that afternoon and was scheduled to return the following day.
At 11am on July 12, 2004, I received a message that the helicopter carrying Judson and six others — pilot Capt Samsuddin Hashim, Padawan Municipal Council chairman Lawrence Th’ng, Sesco CEO Roger Wong, Kelabit contractor Datuk Marcus Raja and Sesco engineers Jason Eng and Ling Tian Ho — had crashed.
A year before the crash on July 17, the same mountain had claimed the lives of the Bell helicopter and Borneo Evangelical Mission president Kalib Besar who was on a church mission as the people of Ba’kelalan prepared for the annual July Christian ‘Irau’ retreat.
Even though I have scaled Sarawak’s highest mountain twice to have a quiet time, I believe my dearest friends are closer to God than many of us.
Condolences to all families.
Last but not least, please remember the long-suffering Sarawak helicopter pilots who risk their lives serving the people on a daily basis.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the New Sarawak Tribune.
