Dr Johan Steytler, an anaesthetist by profession at a private practice in the northern suburbs of Cape Town, has retired as an AMS volunteer fixed-wing pilot after nearly two decades of dedicated service to help those in need.
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The non-profit SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service (AMS) relies on a group of volunteer fixed-wing pilots to transport critically ill and injured patients via the Pilatus PC-12 emergency air ambulance service.
The PC-12 is a fully equipped 24-hour custom-designed air ambulance with an interior designed for medical intensive care. The AMS has over 55 years of experience in the aero-medical sector, collaborating with various provincial departments of health to strengthen the national health system through rescue, air ambulance, and rural health outreach services.
The AMS is the only aero-medical operator in Southern Africa that offers a complete package of air ambulance, health outreach and rescue services.
Dr. Steytler began his career with the AMS as a volunteer medical doctor onboard the AMS emergency aircraft in the early 1990s. Since 1986, he has held a private pilot’s licence.
“I always had a keen interest in aviation. The professional aviation exposure as a medical crew member inspired me to complete my commercial pilot’s license in 1995 while I was working as a registrar in anaesthesia (specialist training) at Tygerberg Hospital,” Dr Steytler explained.
“My first flight as an observer pilot with the AMS was in December 2003 with Captain Frans Grotepass. I joined AMS in 2008, first as a volunteer co-pilot and then as a captain. From August 2004 to November 2022, I flew as captain,” he added.
Dr Steytler has flown over eight different PC-12 aircraft, completed 600 missions, and accumulated over 1,600 flying hours while flying to 30 different destinations in Southern Africa. This includes approximately 35 operational car-light landings for mercy night missions at unlit airfields.
“We admire Dr Steytler’s passion and commitment to the AMS’s mission of saving the lives of those in need. May your legacy inspire young pilots, those in our system, and South Africans to follow in your footsteps of selfless service,” said AMS CEO Farhaad Haffejee.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity made possible by my contribution and work as a volunteer with AMS. It took me to different locations in Southern Africa during the day and night and allowed me to be a part of all the complexity, care, and emotion that comes with inter-healthcare facility transfers of critically ill patients. It was a privilege and an incredible journey,” Dr Steytler added.
When asked what he plans on doing going forward, he replied:
“The future for me will hopefully be more flying, albeit not with an AMS PC12 aircraft. I recently completed my FAA foreign validation of my South African pilot’s licence in the United States. This enabled me to fly an aircraft from the south of the United States to various destinations before continuing on to Oshkosh (Wisconsin), the world’s largest annual “fly-in” event (bucket list things).”
“As a result, my retirement as an AMS pilot does not imply that I am going to stop flying. On the contrary, it will allow me more free time, I am already planning a couple of flying trips in southern Africa and abroad. I will also continue practising as an anaesthetist for a few more years,” Dr Steytler concluded.
The AMS would like to express its appreciation to Dr. Steytler for his willingness to serve on the volunteer fixed-wing pilot committee. Dr. Steytler has served the AMS and the people of our country with compassion, integrity, and professionalism.
As you travel the world, we wish you many more safe flights.
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