International (MNN) ― There's a new team of pilots in training at New Tribes Mission. New Tribes' Tim Sanford: "Traditionally we have only been training two to three guys in a given year. In the last two years, our numbers have really increased to where we've maxed out at six. That's how many we have here now, and we expect to have another six coming next year, as well."
Six new families with a combined total of seven children are adjusting to their new surroundings at the McNeal, Arizona training facilities. They will soon begin the specialized training for missionary pilots and mechanics necessary before heading for their fields of service.
The missionary aviation training program takes eight to nine months to complete, but Sanford emphasizes that it takes eight to ten years to launch a full-trained missionary pilot onto the field.
A lack of pilots puts other projects in jeopardy. "We have one country that we have been trying for about two to three years to get a flight program back up and running there. It's very difficult; a lot circumstances determine that. In that situation, I know of at least one tribal location where we've had missionaries we've had to pull out because we don't have an aviator to get them back and forth in a safe way."
Pray for safety and wisdom for the six pilot/mechanics as they begin their specialized training. Pray that the families will adjust to their new homes.
