Helicopters are meeting very specific needs in New Tribes Mission. Many of the remote locations that the church planters work make it impossible to build airstrips. Many of the airstrips used are not large enough to meet current safety standards and due to terrain can not be expanded. Helicopters are a safe and efficient at overcoming these barriers and saving church planters years of work. One New Tribes Missionary recently wrote to NTM Aviation saying that if a helicopter would be available to their location it would save him three years of his time working to build an airstrip in the mountainous terrain using only hand tools. By avoiding airstrip construction all together, a helicopter would enable this missionary to spend his time teaching the Word of God and discipling the new believers.
NTM Aviation has asked Kelly and I to consider staying another year here in Arizona to become qualified to fly the helicopter as well. They have a shortage of helicopter pilots and I am just a few months away from having my instructor rating for the helicopter. This would enable me to train a few of their airplane pilots as helicopter pilots. This opportunity also provides me with the remaining flight time that I need to begin my checkout in the helicopter overseas. The NTMA leadership in Papua New Guinea are happy for me to take this time now and come prepared for both the airplane and helicopter. Currently there is only one helicopter pilot in Papua New Guinea and during his furlough, they have been forced to stop flying the helicopter halting the necessary service it provides to many of the remote tribal locations.
Currently I am working on my helicopter instructor rating and will be starting to instruct mid fall. I would appreciate your prayers as I study and prepare for this major exam. Kelly and I plan to leave for PNG by the fall of 2009.
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