"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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
The below center photo shows MMS President Dwight Jarboe with his 3 year old
grandson, aboard MFI's Turbine DC-3 at the 2006 "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:
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Website: www.mmsaviation.org
