Why We Fly Helicopters
We fly helicopters for the same reason we fly airplanes, use boats on the open seas and rivers of the world, and maneuver rugged terrain with four-wheel-drive vehicles.
It’s to reach the people of the world who do not have the Word of God in their language. Bible translation programs are being carried out in 1,998 languages, reaching roughly 1.2 billion people. JAARS uses helicopters both overseas and in the United States to help reach these people groups with God’s Word.
Overseas, there is often not enough suitable land to carve out an airstrip. In these situations, a helicopter may be the only means of transportation into and out of an isolated village. This is the most obvious need for using helicopters, but there are many other reasons why we fly them.
To do surveys.
Helicopters make it possible for linguists to do surveys to determine which people groups need a New Testament translation. A helicopter has the flexibility to land at almost any village. This allows the linguists to talk with the people, analyze what language is spoken, and determine how similar or different the language is compared to neighboring villages.
To make initial contacts.
In early 1982 in the Philippines, we were praying about putting a translation team in the village of Lubo. There was a New Testament translation being done in a neighboring village, but the people of Lubo would not accept that translation because of social issues. They also had a price on the translator’s head!
Finally, the decision was made to go into Lubo with the helicopter and with this translator. This would be our first contact with these people. We prayed fervently that God would keep everyone safe. God’s grace abounded, and He answered our prayers above and beyond what we had asked. When we landed, we found the people friendly, all the officials we needed to talk with were gathered right there because of a funeral, and, most amazingly, they wanted a missionary in their village so they could have air service! God had opened the door.
To bring in building supplies.
Many missionaries use helicopters to bring in supplies for their village homes. After we made contact with the Kalinga people of Lubo for translator Sherry Brainard, we flew 17 shuttles to the village to take the materials needed for her house. We carried some of the bulky and oversized supplies on a sling load, such as kitchen cabinets, a refrigerator and a water tank.
To evacuate people.
We use the helicopter to do medical and rescue evacuations for translators if they have no airstrip, or when the winds are too high to use their runway. One day we received a call over the radio from Bruce Grayden in Mallango, Philippines. His life was being threatened by dissidents; would we pray?
Some time after that he called again; he and his family needed to be evacuated immediately. Our plane could not use the village airstrip because of high winds. Further, it was in the path of those coming to harm him. With the helicopter, we bypassed the problems, landed in the schoolyard, and rescued the Grayden family.
To promote linguistic work.
Helicopters are sometimes used to transport officials from other countries. They like to view the work of our translation teams to determine whether they want us to do linguistic work and Bible translation in their own countries.
To fly in guests for New Testament dedications.
Typically, many guests attend New Testament dedications. For the Antipolo Ifugao New Testament dedication in the Philippines, a place with no airstrip, 27 shuttles were needed to take all the officials and interested people in and back out. The effectiveness of the Scriptures in Antipolo Ifugao people was dramatic. We praise the Lord that there are several villages now where there is at least one believer in every home.
—Eric Peterson was a JAARS-trained helicopter pilot in the Philippines. He is currently retired from aviation and is teaching English as a Second Language with his wife in the northern Philippines.
