Fort Sherman Academy

Fort Sherman Academy (FSA) was present at the 2010 IAMA conference this year to provide hostage survival and security training.  For those who participated, it was a said to be a powerful event and highly recommended for anyone planning on spending any length of time traveling oversees in potentially hostile environments.    David Dose then gave a 45-minute presentation to the rest of the attendees .  Having lived oversees myself, I fully recommend the high impact quality training being offered by FSA.

Consider a few statistics:

• 2009 there were 3,000,000 short-term ‘missionaries’, and 20% of them had some sort of crisis.
• Annual increase in crime against Westerners increases roughly15% each year.
• In the event of a kidnapping or detention situation, an organization can plan on spending $50,000 – $100,000.  Can your ministry afford that?

Visit www.fortsherman.org for more information.

What Does It Take?

What does it take to be a mission pilot/mechanic?

Each organization will have their own particular requirements when it comes to flight experience and ratings.  A rough average is currently 500 hours total time with commercial instrument license.  Most organizations still require an A& P as well.

There are variations and exceptions, so check them out individually on our Members Page.

Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes

Beyond that, organizations will generally be looking for the following KSA’s (Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes)

All skills and attitudes are applicable to flight and maintenance;
flight-specific items are marked with an asterisk (*).

KNOWLEDGE

1. General aviation knowledge (flight). Including, but not limited to: 14 CFR Part 91, airspace, aircraft POH, weather, aerodynamics, weight and balance, aircraft systems, navigation, operations at uncontrolled airfields, etc.
2. General maintenance knowledge (maintenance). Including, but not limited to: knowledge and use of tools, knowledge and use of available resources such as AC-43, service bulletins, parts and overhaul manuals. In addition, a close look is taken at the applicant’s inspection and  troubleshooting procedures, skills, etc.

Skills

1. Aircraft handling.* VFR and IFR; at various speeds and in various configurations.
2. Navigation.* Most notably, VFR, DR and pilotage navigation skills.
3. Aeronautical decision making. Makes correct decisions in an appropriate manner and timely fashion.
4. Judgment. Appropriately compares and evaluates courses of action.
5. Aptitude for learning. Has the ability to learn new skills and information.
6. Situational awareness. Accurately perceives what is happening with oneself, the aircraft (during flight or maintenance) and the environment, in the short-term past, present and near future.
7. Integration. Appropriately integrates and applies knowledge, skills and experience. Commonly referred to as adaptability when applying past aeronautical experience to a new situation.
8. Performance under pressure. Carries out activities appropriately when under pressure or stress.
9. Resource management. Uses resources effectively to accomplish tasks.
10. Task management. Prioritizes and accomplishes multiple tasks in a timely manner. Commonly referred to as multitasking.
11. Functions within limitations. Recognizes personal and organizational limitations, establishes appropriate margins and consistently functions within those margins.
12. Risk management. Appropriately recognizes, evaluates and mitigates risk.
13. Self assessment. Accurately assesses one’s own skills and performance.
14. Planning. Makes and adapts plans, including for contingencies.
15. Adaptable. Is able to change activities in response to changing circumstances.
16. Interpersonal skills. Relates to all people appropriately.

Attitudes

1. Hazardous attitudes. Does not exhibit attitudes that lead to dangerous behavior.
2. Safety-conscious. Places a high value on safety.
3. Conservative. Exercises moderation and/or caution when making decisions.
4. Professional. Is thorough, responsible, reliable and conscientious; maintains high standards.
5. Self-controlled. Exercises restraint over one’s actions and desires. Adheres to standards, procedures and regulations.
6. Integrity. Does what is right, even when alone.
7. PIC Mentality.* Is in command of all aspects of flight.
8. Teachable. Is willing to be taught.
9. Inquisitive. Has a desire to learn.
10. Initiative. Looks for what needs to be done and does it.
11. Self-confidence. Has the appropriate level of confidence in one’s knowledge and abilities.

* Items noted with an asterisk relate to pilot-specific attributes.  All others apply to both pilots and mechanics.

Baby Born at 2,000′

“Sixty seconds later I looked back to see a little blue-faced baby passenger lying on the floor”

Date: 6 August, 2001
Jack Sluiter

Ya’ know, it started out like any other day. Up at 5:00 am to get the airplane ready and off the water by 7:30. Everything was going as planned and nothing was going to set this day apart as anything strange or unusual. That was until I called in to our home base at noon. I was sitting in a little jungle village (five or six houses) eating my lunch while I waited for passengers. They were coming by canoe from someplace unknown and would maybe be another hour before they arrived.

So I called Lisa on the radio to update what was happening. When I contacted her, the flight coordinator advised me that there was a medical emergency in Atsakus, another small jungle village (as if there was anything other than small jungle villages around). It happened that there was a women who had been in labor for three days and still had not given birth. They needed to get her to a hospital today or she may not live through the night. Since Atsakus was a river village without a runway, and I was sitting in the only float plane flying in Peru, it dawned on me that I might have to change my schedule.

Read more

Liberty University Aviation Video

Here is a recently produced video that gives a good overview of the flight program offered by IAMA member school, Liberty University.

http://www.vimeo.com/4873244

Missionary Flights International Video

IAMA member, Missionary Flights International (aka MFI), is a Florida, US based missionary aviation ministry. This is the story of Missionary Flights International – How it began, its goals, and its outreach to missions in the Caribbean.

http://www.vimeo.com/4628292

New Tribes Aviation to the rescue again

When a Palawano woman’s medical condition was beyond what the missionary clinic could handle they called for a flight to transport the patient to another medical facility.

After missionary pilot Ben Hart landed Wednesday, close to the small remote village in the Philippines, he heard a fascinating story about the couple he was transporting.

While Ben helped the woman and her youngest daughter into the plane he noticed that her husband did not look like a typical mountain person. He looked more like a person from the coastal area.

Asking the missionary about this, Ben was told how the couple met.

Her husband of many years is a former rebel from another area. During one of his raids on a village in years past, he spotted a girl and attacked her, smashing her mouth with the butt of his rifle and taking out several teeth. He dragged her off into the jungle and she became his prisoner.

The young woman, about 30 years of age, and her husband now have nine children.

As the plane taxied to the other end of the runway, Ben saw that the woman had her eyes covered with the barf bag. He didn’t see her eyes open again until the plane was safely on the ground at their destination.

During the flight he also noticed something that seemed unusual to him.

“Her husband was patting her in a comforting way the whole flight,” Ben wrote. “Well, comforting of some sort. He was thumping her chest with his hand. It seemed ironic to me that this man, in particular, would be showing a public display of comfort to his wife. I have flown out many sick tribal people and have never seen that before.”

This young mother is now scheduled for surgery and Ben believes he will soon be flying her back home to recover.

“Maybe this year she and her husband will be introduced to Jesus,” Ben wrote.

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Story by David Bell (04/09/2009)

New Tribes Website

IAMA Spotlight: United Indian Mission

UIM Aviation is the aviation ministry of UIM International.

Our purpose is to develop reproducing, culturally-relevant churches among Native Americans and Hispanics in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

UIM Aviation accomplishes this goal through a variety of means and partnerships with other like-minded organizations to minister to people living in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico.  UIM Aviation is dedicated to spreading the Gospel of Christ and helping develop God’s church around the world

IAMA Spotlight: Wings of Faith

Wings of Faith Ministries, Inc., founded in 1975, is a Missionary Aviation organization dedicated to providing faith-based support to missionaries who are ministering to people who are suffering and in dire need.

Bibles, Religious tracts, food and clothing are flown to 11 locations serving the American Indian Nations located in California , Nevada , New Mexico , and Arizona .

Wings of Faith is supported by a group of dedicated Men and Women who volunteer their time, financial resources, and aircraft in order to help fulfill God’s Great Commission.

Our website is: www.wingsoffaithministries.net

IAMA Podcast Episode 01-Mission Aviation Fellowship

Today we visit with Ron Hilbrands, Manager of Recruiting and a twenty five plus year veteran with MAF.

(Website: www.maf.org & www.mafrecruiting.org)

New Tribes Aviation: Halfway Between Somewhere and Nowhere

Two days after Christmas missionary pilot Paul Wilhelmson found himself “halfway between somewhere and nowhere,” waiting in Indonesia for the arrival of a missionary family.

Paul rested in a hotel near the closest available airstrip to the missionaries’ jungle home while the family endured an 11-hour road trip that included mud holes, break downs, walking and pushing their vehicle. The weary family finally arrived after dark.

The trip that took a full day for the family would have been covered in less than ten minutes if the village airstrip had been ready. The family was spared another eight hours on the road by meeting the plane at a “halfway” point.

Please pray that the village airstrip can be completed, and continue to pray for endurance and encouragement for those serving in remote locations.

___________________

This story taken from the New Tribes Missions website.