Meet the Team
Philip & Sarah Schmied
Philip and Sarah joined Mercy Air in early 2018. Philip is serving as a helicopter mechanic and helps out with base maintenance using his electrical skills. Sarah is an elementary teacher who is now also involved in the administration realm. They have three children.
Joel & Sarah Baertschi
Joel joined Mercy Air in 2015 as a helicopter pilot and his wife, Sarah, works with YWAM Mozambique . Together they fly helicopter outreaches into eSwatini and Mozambique.
Jeremy & Janet Boddington
Jeremy and Janet joined Mercy Air in 2019. Jeremy's management experience during 31 years of flying in the British Royal Navy prepared him for the role of CEO. Janet was a primary school teacher and assists with hospitality and general administration.
Tanner and Emily Taff
Tanner and Emily joined Mercy Air in late 2024 with their two young sons. They come from Alaska where Tanner was working as a charter pilot in the snow and ice; he is now one of our fixed wing pilots flying in the heat of the African bush.
Tebogo Mathole
Tebogo joined Mercy Air in 2021 as our Office Administrator. She is from the local area and has experience working in administration for the Non-Profit and Government sector.
Aaron and Sarah Kramer
Aaron joined Mercy Air in January 2025 with their two daughters. They came from the United States where Aaron was a pilot with MAF and they previously served with MAF in Indonesia.
David Schumacher
After graduating Lufthansa Aviation Training as an A320 airline pilot in 2012, David always felt a desire to use these skills to serve and help others. He joined MercyAir in 2022 as a missionary pilot and Deputy fixed wing flight operations Manager.
Pabalo Bopape
Pabalo lives locally and is currently a helicopter maintenance apprentice with Mercy Air Switzerland
Sizzy Mpangane & Petunia Ngomane
Sizzy (Left) comes from Bushbuckridge north of White River and joined Mercy Air in 2005 as a Housekeeper for our guest accommodation. Petunia (Right) is an experienced Health Worker and started at Mercy Air in 2011 working with Sizzy as a part time Housekeeper.
Vusi Simelane
Vusi had 12 years’ experience in commercial farming before joining Mercy Air in 2012 to help maintain our buildings and grounds. He comes from near the border with eSwatini.
Swenky Mahule
Swenky lives locally and was a farm worker before joining Mercy Air in 2004 on the site maintenance team. He has been given the title “Induna” (foreman) as the longest employee at Mercy Air.
Moses Mthombothi
Moses is from Bushbuck Ridge and worked at Sappi Mining Timber before joining Mercy Air in 2018 for site maintenance.