MFI's "Missionary Spotlight":

showing the people who are sharing the Gospel in the West Indies,

and around the world

September/October Spotlight - MMS Aviation, "Preparing People and Planes for Worldwide Mission Service"

MMS Aviation (Missionary Maintenance Services), based in Coshocton, Ohio, about 70 miles east of Columbus, serves two primary functions in the field of missions aviation.  The first is to prepare people to serve as pilot/mechanics or aircraft maintenance specialists, with a hands-on apprenticeship program of study, lasting 30 months.  Most mission aviation organizations, such as MFI, require that each pilot also be a certified mechanic.  The training at MMS qualifies each apprentice to take the FAA exam.  Upon passing the exam, MMS graduates receive their Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic certificate.  They are then expected to serve with one of the 125 missions aviation organizations operating around the world.  The second function of MMS is to repair, rebuild, and overhaul missionary aircraft for the over eighty missions that they serve.  A unique aspect of the MMS ministry is that all mission aircraft maintenance, modifications, and repairs are performed on a labor-free basis.  Missions are charged only for parts and materials used.  This provides a tremendous benefit for the missions they serve.  In 2005, MMS saved mission aviation over $981,000 in labor expenses alone!

One of the many benefits of the apprenticeship program is the opportunity to meet missionaries who are actively serving in the mission field.  The above left photo shows a missionary consulting with an MMS mechanic about the work being done on his ministry's King Air 200.  Another benefit is working under the teaching and mentoring of certified mechanics.  The above right photo shows mechanics in training working on an aircraft brake system. 

MMS Aviation was formed in 1975, with one man and one apprentice working out of the basement of an Ohio farmhouse.  In 1979, MMS moved to the Coshocton County Airport, where they built their main repair hangar, shown above.  They added an office on the right side in 1988.

When MMS built their main repair hangar, it was sized to allow for work on aircraft as large as a DC-3.  When DC-3's come in for repair, the wings are removed, and the nose of the aircraft goes over the side mezzanine level.  The above left photo shows the mezzanine, on which mechanics can easily work on the nose of a DC-3, while other mechanics are working at floor level.  The above right photo shows a King Air 200 in the main hangar during a scheduled inspection.

The office addition includes rooms for parts, accounting, locker space, and a lunch room.  Shown above is one of the many office rooms, where repair orders are kept organized and scheduled on a priority basis.

As MMS grew, the need for additional hangar space grew also.  In June 2000, a 5,600 square foot addition was built onto the back of the main hangar.  The top left and right photos above show work being done on one of three aircraft in the back addition area.  Even with the back addition, the volume of work MMS was being called upon to do meant that several missions aircraft were waiting outside until they could be moved into the shop for service, or until owners came for them.  A November 2002 hail storm badly damaged four aircraft.  The need for a storage hangar was clear.  The bottom right photo above shows the new 110'x80' storage hangar currently under construction.

In addition to the large work areas, there are smaller work spaces that allow for sheet metal work (above left), engine repair and build-up (above center), and parts analysis and cleaning (above right).

A vital part of MMS' ministry is their Rapid Response teams.  Comprised of a team leader and 2-4 apprentice mechanics, these teams are able to respond quickly to emergency repair requests from missions organizations around the world.  MFI was recently blessed by one of these teams, when N400MF, on its way to the Dominican Republic for re-painting, had an engine failure after taking off from the Bahamas.  An MMS Rapid Response team was able to perform an engine swap in a matter of days, allowing MFI's DC-3 to safely continue the trip to the DR.  N400MF is shown above after the completed paint job and its return to Fort Pierce.  Other recent Rapid Response teams have traveled to Alaska, Virginia, and even Southeast Asia.

The Lord has used MMS Aviation in support of over 80 missions around the globe.  Their purpose is to bring honor and glory to our Lord, by assisting ministries who often fly into remote parts of the world sharing the Gospel, and to support them with skilled pilot/mechanics and maintenance specialists.  The below left photo shows the banner on the back wall of the main repair hangar.  The below center photo shows MMS President Dwight Jarboe with his 3 year old grandson, aboard MFI's Turbine DC-3 at the recent Missions at the Airport Conference in Kidron, Ohio.  The below right photo shows the picture board of MMS' staff and apprentices.  There are currently 10 families on staff and 11 mechanics in the training program.

MMS Aviation has spent 31 years "preparing people and planes for worldwide mission service".  To learn more about their ministry, friends and supporters are encouraged to write to them at the following mail and e-mail addresses, or visit the MMS Aviation website:

MMS Aviation
24387 Airport Road
Coshocton, OH 43812
E-mail: admin@mmsaviation.org
Website: www.mmsaviation.org

There are many ways in which the Lord can use His people to share the love of Christ.  MFI's "Missionary Spotlight" shows how different people and different missions organizations have answered His call, and through the ministry of MFI and other partner ministries, have gone forth to share the Gospel in the West Indies, and around the world.

June/July Spotlight - Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF)

January/February Spotlight - Baptist Haiti Mission

December Spotlight - Pastor Saint-Ange Monestime, His Harvest Fields

November Spotlight - Paul and Belle Romeus, Grace Missions International - Haiti