IAMA CONFERENCE
April 16-18, 1996 marked the twenty-fifth annual gathering of the International Association of Missionary Aviation (IAMA). Held this year on the campus of Christian Heritage College in El Cajon, California, the IAMA conference brought managers, instructors, pilots, maintenance technicians, administrators, missionary students and other related aviation specialists to one location for one purpose: to further the efforts of missionary aviation.
IAMA President, Ernie Krenzin, of Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), welcomed participants from more that eighteen mission organizations and mission support operations such as: SOMA Ministries, Inc; United Indian Missions Technical Services; Tribal Air Communications; Mission Aviation Fellowship; Moody Aviation; Cornerstone Aviation Services; Mission Safety International; Jungle Aviation And Radio Services; and Tyler International School of Aviation. Dwight Jarboe, Vice-President of IAMA, represented Missionary Maintenance Services during the three day conference.
Gathered under the theme Global Horizons, participants built new relationships, renewed old friendships, traded information from field experience, and encouraged each other to continue the struggle to reach the lost through aviation. Workshops, video presentations, expert panels, and lively question-and-answer sessions facilitated the exchange of information. Updates from each organization provided a comprehensive view of efforts expended by IAMA members and associates throughout the global environment.
With each geographic area having its own special aviation requirements, all types of aviation equipment are incorporated into flight operations. This requires a training program broad enough, yet specialized enough, to meet the needs of the user organization. Technical training isn't the only requirement, as professional and spiritual maturity are key in the utilization of skills taught. Repeatedly during the conference, MMS was recognized for the high quality of its training program as well as the professional servanthood of the personnel it has prepared.
IAMA, as it enters its twenty-sixth year, provides a unique forum for missionary aviation. No other organization in the world provides such an arena to promote an intense information exchange specifically geared for missionary aviation.
IAMA 1996 was a success in every respect. Plans for May 1997's conference at Cornerstone Aviation's Lowell, Michigan site are are already being laid. For information regarding IAMA and how you can help, contact Ernie Krenzin, 1-909-793-2800.
PERU RAPID RESPONSE TRIP
May 23rd MMS apprentice M.L. Caldwell and MMS graduate Lavon Mullet caught a flight at the Port Columbus International Airport and headed for the interior of Peru. The reason for the trip was to help South America Mission aviation personnel with a major inspection of their Cessna floatplane.
After every 1000 hours of operation SAMAIR mechanics inspect each plane as recommended by the manufacturer. Even though they inspect the airplane and all its systems every 100 hours, this "thousand hour" inspection includes more items and requires more disassembly. In addition to the specified inspection, the plane was to be repainted and various minor repairs were to be done.
M.L. and Lavon were met in Lima by Darryl Gingerich who is on loan to SAMAIR from MMS. They went through immigration and customs with no problems. An airline flight over the Andes Mountains brought them, along with the Gingeriches, to Pucallpa. Pucallpa is a city not far from the South America Mission center of operation in Eastern Peru.
The first few days of their three weeks of work were spent helping perform a 100 hour inspection on the Cessna 206 on wheels. Soon the MMS team was cleaning, inspecting and repairing parts of the Cessna 206 float plane. Some of the material needed to refurbish the plane was yet to arrive so M.L. and Lavon did not see the project completed.
It was not all work and no play. The fellows overnighted in a village along a nearby river where they slept in mosquito nets under a thatched roof. They played some soccer and attended a church service while there.
After his return M.L. assured everyone that he ate well. Fresh tropical fruit was plentiful as were cooking bananas. He fondly remembers a spicey rice dish with meat that is called "arroz chaufa" in that region.
The trip was a positive learning experience in both technical and non-technical areas.
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MMS is a member of the International Association of Missionary Aviation (IAMA).