Papua New Guinea

JAARS-trained pilots operate two Cessna 206s, three Quest Kodiaks, and a Bell LongRanger helicopter—all of which are well-suited for flights to remote villages. They also operate a King Air B200, which is especially useful for flights over open water, trips to the capital city and medical evacuations to Australia.

In total, the fleet provides transportation to more than 175 translation programs, many of which are led by Papua New Guineans. Our aviation personnel also perform medical evacuations, deliver lifesaving medicines, and transport cargo—such as cash crops—for community development.

Terrain

Roughly 600 islands make up Papua New Guinea, many of which are blanketed with dense tropical rain forests and sprawling swamplands. Extensive mountain ranges cover much of the country—with some peaks rising nearly 15,000 feet above sea level. Papua New Guinea’s tropical climate is often difficult to predict, and storms can develop without warning.

The country’s rugged terrain has prevented the construction of roads and bridges in many areas; aviation remains the only viable means of transportation to many regions of Papua New Guinea.

Translation and Literacy Work

More than 800 language groups—nearly 12% of the world’s known language groups—are scattered throughout Papua New Guinea, making it the most linguistically diverse nation in the world.

The New Testament has already been translated into more than 170 of these languages, and literacy programs have enabled thousands of Papua New Guineans to read literature in their own language. Many translation projects are led by the Bible Translation Association, which was founded by Papua New Guinean Christians in 1974.

Today, language work is underway in approximately 260 language groups, many of which are accessible solely by air transportation.

Yet the task is still far from finished—because in roughly 325 languages, translation has yet to begin.