NEWS

SPRING2 0 1 6

WHY PT6 ACOURSES M ATTER

THE ENGINE THAT CAN:

Turbine-engine aircraft capable of bush flying came at the right time for missionary

aviation. As the cost of traditional aviation

gasoline used by piston-engine aircraft soared and global availability of this fuel became scarce, God brought suitable turbine aircraft to missionary aviation organizations. Unlike

avgas, the jet fuel used by turbines is

widely available at reasonable prices. Turbines

also produce more power for a given engine weight compared to

piston engines. This enables modern missionary aircraft to climb more quickly,

haul more, and fly faster. The crew of a well-utilized turbine aircraft can often accomplish more missionary work in a given time than with a piston aircraft.

Turbines require precision to operate well and can be less forgiving of errors compared with piston engines. A new PT6A turboprop, the most widely used turbine engine in missionary aviation, typically costs around $600,000. Individual engine components often cost thousands of dollars each. Good stewards of these high-value resources will do their best to operate them with the utmost care.

Few people are as passionate about optimal PT6A use in missionary aviation as Chief Operating Officer Ken Smoll of Spokane Turbine Center. Ken has logged thousands of PT6A flight and maintenance hours across a spectrum of missionary

Our heart and soul is

providing professional

training to missionary

pilots and technicians.

Missionary aviators who

provide safe, reliable,

and cost-effective

connection to remote

people groups enable

the good news of Jesus

Christ to touch those who

might not otherwise be

effectively reached.

We've consolidated

training resources in

order to best meet

professional missionary

training needs, and we

are dedicated to

delivering the finest

training courses possible

at affordable prices.

Sound interesting? Be a

part of our vision. Pray

for us and consider

becoming a financial

partner at

spokaneturbinecenter.org.

and other environments. This, along with his love of effective teaching, give Ken an expertise that he is called to share with other missionaries.

"We want to provide the PT6A understanding that will help both pilots and technicians," said Ken. "Our courses will provide the PT6A background needed to use the engine well. That will help them adopt an operational mentality which yields the results that will most impact missionary aviation. We want to see safety, optimized maintenance, lower operating costs, better operational performance, and greater reliability."

Spokane Turbine Center teaches a five-day PT6A Comprehensive Overview, which is an opportunity for both pilots and technicians to dive deep into the PT6A. This depth opens the door for understanding short- and long-term effects on operational practices. Another five-day course for technicians covers heavier maintenance and thorough engine hot section inspections.

"If missionary organizations invest a comparatively small amount of money for professional courses, they minimize expensive operational risks," said CEO Dennis Elrod of Spokane Turbine Center. "Our vision is to provide each turbine-operating missionary pilot and technician the best professional training possible. We want the resources of each organization to be directly impacting God's kingdom, rather than being spent on avoidable repairs or maintenance."

"We?ve been gathering collective data on missionary PT6A operations for years, from multiple organizations, including our own," said Ken. "We know what is being done right, along with what isn't, and we are continuously improving our material to reflect new information. We've consolidated data, expertise, and equipment so the entire missionary community can benefit.?

PT6A courses at Spokane Turbine Center use a number of training resources including an KODIAK simulator, PT6A run-up stand, an engine classroom/lab equipped with complete engines, components, and specialized tools. These assets provide missionaries hands-on training experiences which will directly connect training with their work on the mission field.

Generous donations allow us to provide PT6A courses at a substantial discount. Please visit www.spokaneturbinecenter.org for information on how you can financially sponsor professional missionary aviation training.

M issionary ai rcraf t using t he PT6 A eng ine include:

QUEST KODIAK

CESSNA CARAVAN

PILATUS PORTER

WHY PT6 ACOURSES M ATTER (CONTINUED)

THE ENGINE THAT CAN:

I f you are par t of a

missionary organization

interested in optimal

PT6A use, contact us

for course information

and availability.

An MAF charter was just

what Harrison Ford and a

documentary film crew

needed tor transportation in

Borneo. Sean Cannon flew

the aircraft ? sort of.

"Mr. Ford is an

accomplished pilot," Sean

said. "When I offered the

chance for him to fly our

Cessna 185 float plane, he

eagerly accepted. Harrison

flew the airplane very well,

a testament to his

experience, which is almost

double mine by the way! I

just ran the radio and made

sure everything stayed

safe, but Harrison did much

of the flying."

If Sean suddenly begins to

howl like Chewbacca, we'll

know why. We're proud to

have him on our team!

Costa Rica. Ecuador. Mexico. Most recently, operating floatplanes in Indonesia.

Sean and Rebecca Cannon's ten-year service with Mission Aviation Fellowship allowed them to directly impact lives around the world. Now Sean's impact on missionary aviation will extend across even more countries and organizations as he becomes Operations Manager at Spokane Turbine Center.

"I love aviation and I love sharing the hope that we have in Jesus," Sean said. "That makes missionary aviation a natural response to how God made me, and I'm glad to be serving here."

In this role, Sean will work directly under Chief of Operations Ken Smoll and will provide customer service as he oversees the day-to-day operations of our missions-focused aviation training programs. He will supervise and coach instructors, oversee lesson plan

development, and lead the Spokane Turbine Center instructional team.

"I am looking forward to sharpening the skills of pilots and technicians from the many different missionary organizations and continuing my own learning as I rub shoulders with them," said Sean. "What mission aviators do with airplanes is not normal. However, this non-normal type of bush flying can be done with a high margin of safety and success because we take proficiency so seriously.  Maintaining strong proficiency takes dedication, financial resources, and time. Strong initial and recurrent training is thus critical to a missionary operator's longevity and reputation."

Sean began his aviation career as an A&P apprentice in south central Colorado, where he and his wife Rebecca are originally from. They have three children: Brooklyn (12), Madison (9), and Paige (7).

After years of serving

remote people groups

with Mission Aviation

Fellowship, we welcome

Sean and Rebecca

Cannon to the Spokane

Turbine Center team.

FROM INDONESIA TO SPOKANE

Fly ing dual w i t h Han Solo

PT6A Comprehensive Overview (five days): for pilot/mechanics or

maintenance specialists of any turbine experience seeking a thorough,

systematic analysis of the fundamental concepts, working components and

practical operational aspects of the PT6A turbine engine.

PT6A L ine Maintenance and Hot Section Inspection (five days): for

mechanics and maintenance specialists with PT6A inspection/servicing or

course experience who will be involved in more advanced engine work.

This course is often taken immediately after the Comprehensive Overview.

PT6A Maintenance Recurrent (three days): for pilot/mechanics or

maintenance specialists with operational PT6A maintenance experience

who are seeking to refresh their ability to use a PT6A with the latest in

operational information.

Quest KODIAK 100 G1000 Maintenance (two days): for avionics and

maintenance specialists moving into KODIAK and G1000 operations.

Quest KODIAK 100 Turbine Engine Transition (seven-ten days): for

pilots moving into KODIAK operations. Simulator instruction is

scenario-based, and custom-tailored to the specific operational demands and

geographic location of the student. Completing PT6A overview before this

course is highly recommended, as is training in our KODIAK aircraft to

complement simulator instruction.

Quest KODIAK 100 Aircraft Recurrent Training (three days): for

experienced pilots seeking comprehensive recurrent training encompassing

KODIAK 100 flight operations. This course emphasizes KODIAK systems

review, cockpit flows, checklist usage and emergency procedures.

               

2016PRAYERS

SPRING

spokaneturbinecenter.org

509.536.1969

Spokane, WA 99212

5627 E Rutter Ave

COURSESOUR MISSIONARY AVIATION

We will shortly be beginning a major capital campaign to purchase a Level 6 or better flight simulator. Our needs include wisdom, finances, and manpower help with simulator and PART 142 certification acquisition.

For a long time, we have desired to offer missionary-centered transition and recurrent training for the Cessna Caravan. Pray for the simulator and aircraft resources needed.

We need continued financial resources to help subsidize missionary training.

Pray that we can increasingly bless our partners at Quest Aircraft through Parkwater Aviation, our for-profit subsidiary. Parkwater is the factory-designated Quest KODIAK 100 familiarization course provider for non-missionary operators.