J A A R S: FlightLines Issue 4

FlightLines

A Publication of the Aviation Department at JAARS, Inc.,
Issue 4, 2001

Dear Reader,

This issue of FlightLines highlights some of the many challenges that missionary aviation faces today. But the biggest challenge involves stretching our slim resources, both personnel and financial. Read Tom Beekman's article about aviation needs overseas, and capture JAARS' dream in Terry Heffield's article about a new aircraft ideally suited to mission aviation.

As part of Wycliffe Bible Translators' Vision 2025- to see work started by 2025 for every language group that needs Scripture translation- won't you pray with us that air transportation needs will be met in new and innovative ways? And if you personally would like to be part of the solution, please contact Wes Reimer on e-mail at Aviation_Recruiting_Jaars @sil.org or 704-843-6133.

Praying with you,

Jim McCabe,
JAARS Aviation Maintenance Manager

About Tools and Ministry

How many times have we heard the saying "You need the right tool for the job"? The problem is that for the particular job we do in missionary aviation, the "right tool" is not being made. In many locations the highly specialized airplanes that we use are no longer able to meet the changing needs efficiently. We continue to provide good service but at a higher and higher cost. The cost is often more than dollars and cents; in many cases, it is borne by the pilots, mechanics and administrators who work hard-and then even harder-to keep meeting the needs.

Major challenges include shortages of mechanics to maintain an aging fleet, the high cost and sporadic availability of avgas and parts, the rising costs of overhauls and operating in a wide range of conditions and environments. We still need STOL (short take-off and landing) performance, but we also need more range, speed and load capacity than our present fleet provides.

In my aviation department, we fly translators, church workers and national partners to meet our shared goals. To keep their costs low, we also fly for the general public to generate some income. When I started flying overseas in 1987, our department could pay our overhead costs with 1,300hours of flying per year. Today it is taking over 2,000 hours to cover the overhead expenses.

So what is the right tool for our needs? As I said, we still need STOL performance to get to the remote, underdeveloped areas where we work. With JAARS and Wycliffe's emphasis on partnering and Scripture use, we will also need more flexibility than ever before. As good stewards of the material and personnel resources that God has trusted to us, we need to find airplanes that enable us to be more flexible, effective and efficient. But as I reflect on it, the right tool is actually us-God's people-as we allow God to make us effective. Then as we ask Him and step out in faith, He will give us better airplanes to meet the amazing challenge…"to all the world."

by Tom Beekman, a JAARS-trained pilot

Avgas is scarce and expensive overseas

Men at JAARS spend valuable time filling, loading and shipping drums of avgas because it is both scarce and expensive overseas.

Let's Dream a Little

This Cessna 206 took about
6,000 man-hours at JAARS
to completely overhaul and refurbish.

Can you imagine paying almost $9 a gallon for aviation gasoline? That is what is happening in Cameroon.

Can you imagine spending almost 6,000 man-hours building up a damaged Cessna 206 to send to the mission field because it is still cheaper than a new one? That is what JAARS has been doing for a number of years in Waxhaw, North Carolina.

Can you imagine the weight of wondering if your organization can start new programs or even sustain existing programs around the world? That is the dilemma that JAARS is increasingly finding itself in because of the shortage of qualified aircraft mechanics throughout the aircraft industry.

2011—10 years from now

Looking forward to the year 2011, let's dream a little together. Let's imagine an aircraft company owned by Christians. The company has been producing an airplane that meets the special needs of missionary aviation and at absolutely minimal cost to the mission agencies. JAARS already has several of these new planes, purchased in 2006. We'll call the plane the Ideal Mission Aircraft (IMA).

With this aircraft…

JAARS is able to move three times as many people and three times as much cargo as compared with the Helio Courier and the Cessna 206 used in 2001.
The IMA can do the job in two-thirds the time because it flies so much faster.
Avgas costs more than ever and in 2011 is unavailable in many places, while the cost of the IMA's readily available jet fuel is fairly stable.
Because the IMA is only five years old and is low maintenance by design, JAARS is having no problem keeping it in the air in spite of the limited number of mechanics.
JAARS' first IMA will be sold this year, 2011, and the replacement delivered shortly thereafter. The cost differ-ence will be minimal because it will be subsidized by the Christian aircraft company that makes it.

Since the company that designed the IMA has mission aviation at its heart, it made a few changes to the design to guarantee the new plane's perfect fit in the overseas environment. This means modifications before going to its field of service aren't required, reducing the need for maintenance people. And even if the IMA were to be damaged in an accident, it can easily be repaired overseas because it uses simple aluminum construction, which is familiar to most aircraft mechanics.

This is our dream and this is our need. And we are extremely thankful that there is a new Christian company like this right now. They are designing the IMA with a vision of helping subsidize the cost of new aircraft for mission aviation. Won't you pray with us for the fruition of this project?

by Terry Heffield, JAARS Research & Development Supervisor