Philip tries on a Turbine

Anna’s family come to visit us for the JAARS day event

Hello Friend The seasons are changing—the blue skies, green leaves, and warm sunshine have given way to low clouds, light drizzles, and falling leaves. Yet, even in this gray weather, good learning and meaningful work are taking place. Over the past two weeks, Philip completed a familiarization and heavy maintenance course on turbine engines. These powerful, precision-built engines are increasingly used in mission airplanes and helicopters, and most of the JAARS aircraft currently serving overseas rely on them. During the course, Philip and his classmates were able to fully disassemble, inspect, and reassemble a turbine engine in the classroom. They also trained using the JAARS run stand, where each participant started the engine, brought it up to full power, and practiced real-time troubleshooting of instructor-induced faults. It was an excellent hands-on learning experience.

Philips and his class learning to disassemble a turbine

While we’re on the topic of training, we also want to share an update on Philip’s EMT class. So far, he and two of his co-workers have studied the major body systems—how they function, what can go wrong, and how to stabilize a patient to preserve life. They have learned skills such as controlling bleeding, moving patients safely out of vehicles and other difficult locations, and performing thorough patient assessments to identify life-threatening conditions. Last week, they learned how to properly immobilize a patient with a suspected spinal injury so that they can be moved without causing further harm. Philip’s coworker, David, graciously volunteered as the “patient” for practice. Philip only has about six weeks left in the course, and during November he will complete 48 hours of ambulance ride-alongs in the Charlotte, NC area.

David plays the patient for our EMT class.

As Philip’s training time at JAARS comes to a close, he is set to finish the JATO program this December. We’ve hinted that a new assignment may be ahead, and now we’re ready to share. JAARS currently has only two aviation maintenance trainers working with the new Apprentice Program. This year was the first group, with six apprentices beginning a two-year training journey. In January, five additional apprentices will join, bringing the total to eleven—an exciting growth that will help support mission aviation locations that have struggled with staffing since COVID-19. Philip has been asked to stay at JAARS for one year to serve as the third aviation maintenance trainer. He is already developing a maintenance course on the Cessna 172 for the incoming maintenance and flight apprentices. Although this delays our overseas assignment slightly, Philip is thrilled for the opportunity to teach and invest in the future of missions aviation and Bible translation.

We are so grateful for your continued partnership. Your investment in this mission helps strengthen Bible translation efforts and supports those who serve in difficult and remote regions. Thank you for standing with us.