MMS & MAG

It was a privilege to spend part of yesterday and today meeting with Sean Donnelly, President of Missionary Air Group (MAG). MAG is one of the many ministries we support through our maintenance services but more than that, Paul Jones, one of our recent graduates now serves as part of MAG, and even more that that...it was great to spend time with Sean because a very close relationship is developing between our two organizations.

Over the past year Sean and I have worked to brainstorm a partnership between MMS and MAG that addresses an unmet training need in mission aviation: how to take a pilot/mechanic candidate from zero flight time and no aviation maintenance experience to a confident and competent aviation professional qualified as both a pilot and a mechanic in five years without the candidate incurring any personal debt.

We believe we've come up with a workable model and it appears we may soon have our first candidate with whom to prove the concept. It's an exciting model which addresses several drawbacks in the traditional academic training package that has challenged mission aviation for many years. Both our organizations look forward to getting this unique program up and running and, once proven, to help others duplicate and multiply the method in other locations.

Me and Sean in Hangar C before he departed with the MAG Cessna 206 behind us. I'm the one on the left with all the hair on top.

Sean was in the hangar to pick up the Cessna 206 that Paul had prepared for him, to renew our discussion of the MMS/MAG training partnership, to work out some of the details of Dwight's upcoming trip to Honduras to inspect MAG's Cessna down in Rus Rus, and to meet with the apprentices in our hangar to discuss service opportunities with MAG.

It was good to see Sean, to laugh together and encourage each other, and to talk serious stuff. Once the serious stuff was concluded, Sean needed to get airborne and back to Burlington ahead of the incoming winter storm.

Sean begins his taxi from outside Hangar C,

past Hangar B and Hangar A,

and from our ramp to the taxiway.

Here I am waiting for Sean to take-off so I can capture a photo of his departure. It was 16 degrees and sunny at the time--which was quite a heatwave compared to the 1 degree it was when I arrived at the shop this morning. Nice hat, eh?

Sean departs Coshocton heading for Burlington, NC which serves as MAG's Stateside headquarters. It was a beautiful day for flying.

Thanks for your gifts and prayers that help make days like today possible.