JAARS Acquires Needed Pilatus Airplane
JAARS president says powerful strategies are needed to make God’s Word available to remote people
For more information, contact:
Arthur Lightbody
JAARS Media Relations Officer
1-704-843-6048
arthur_lightbody@sil.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WAXHAW, N.C. — April 4, 2007 — JAARS president Jim Akovenko, and his wife Sue, returned from Stans, Switzerland last Monday night. They were there to receive a PC-12 aircraft from Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. on behalf of JAARS on March 30.
At the airplane’s dedication service, attended by Pilatus officials and leaders from the JAARS partner, Wycliffe Switzerland, Akovenko said, “Today we rejoice in the culmination of hope, prayer and vision for the future. We are looking at a new era in the JAARS fleet sophistication.”
This particular airplane, funded by a $3.4 million project, is headed for Southeast Asia to be operated by a local JAARS national partner.
The plane will be flown by national pilots as well as pilots seconded from JAARS Inc. It will arrive when the importation procedures are concluded.
Akovenko made clear in his remarks at the dedication of the PC-12 aircraft that it was more than a focus on machinery as he said, “... this airplane will be put to use in a remote place, to benefit a people the world knows little about. But God has known them from the beginning. Christ’s command is to make disciples of all nations.”
He stressed that, “Our response is to try new technologies and employ powerful strategies that will make the Word of God available to people in an understandable form—in the language of their hearts.”
The PC-12 can carry ten passengers and is powered by a turbo-prop engine. It is a critical component in JAARS desire to replace its aging fleet of aircraft and to go to turbine engine aircraft in response to a world-wide shortage of aviation gas. The turbine engines burn jet fuel which is more readily available in places where JAARS aircraft are used.
The PC-12 is well-suited for medical evacuations and assisting in services to local people in literacy and other community development efforts, as well as providing transportation for linguists and translators.
The plane can fly in the difficult mountain ranges, at higher elevations and faster speeds than the smaller aircraft already in operation by JAARS partner is Southeast Asia. It can also land on shorter airstrips than most aircraft with the same load capacity.
JAARS aviation operates flights programs in six countries including the facility in Waxhaw. The Waxhaw aviation facility is used primarily for training JAARS pilots in operation procedures for the overseas efforts.
As part of Wycliffe Bible Translators’ family of organizations, JAARS desires to see the Bible translated for all the world’s people groups that need a translation. JAARS serves Wycliffe Bible Translators and related organizations worldwide by providing transportation by air, land or sea; through computing and information technology; media in local languages; and other vital services.
More information on the PC-12 aircraft and JAARS can be found at www.jaars.org.
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