Here's the helicopter on one of it's first operational flights into the jungle. It's number is "2-6-1-niner." "6-1-niner" was the Supercub that used to fly for Brian's parents on Palawan and many, many others.
It is hard to believe that this coming summer marks three years since we first arrived here in the Philippines. Where does the time go? When we arrived the situation was a bit bleak. There was only one functional airplane (one of three) and one active pilot, Ben Hart. Our Chief pilot/program manager was leaving for home assignment shortly after we arrived so there wasn’t a lot happening except on Palawan where Ben was working. The Philippines was in need of three functional flight programs with pilots to cover the whole of the work load in both flight and maintenance.
Several years ago we brought this need before our support team and asked for prayer and encouragement as we moved forward with a sense of urgency to see if the Lord would bless our efforts and allow us to set up the aviation programs again. Through many setbacks and hard times God has been faithful and it is with great joy and thankfulness that we get to announce, “Mission Accomplished!”
Just this month our helicopter carried its first passengers to and from the tribe in the Northern Philippines. Also, this month Josh Dalton was checked out on the active Palawan airstrips and is flying missionaries and their supplies in and out of their locations. This gives us two pilots for the Palawan region which has allowed the Harts to go home for a home assignment after several years of slugging it out alone. Bailey and I are continuing to do the flight program for the Mindanao region which now gives us three pilots and three aircraft!
In just a few weeks the second pilot for Mindanao, Joel Davis, will be arriving and I’ll be helping get him checked out so that he can run the program and allow us to return to the US for a 9 month visit. Then, at the end of the summer our second helicopter pilot hopes to complete his language studies and begin working in the helicopter program. Shortly after he starts, the second pilot family for Palawan will return from their furlough in Canada. Amazing what the Lord has done to bring all of this together.
Thank you so much for all your encouragement along the way as well as the many, many financial gifts that have helped this happen. God has been hard at work in the technical details. This gives us two pilot/mechanics in each region plus Garry, our chief pilot/manager, who is overseeing the training and logistics in all three programs.
Brian and Bailey Pruett Serving in the Philippines with Aviation 
I’ve been overwhelmed with gratitude the last few weeks. There’s nothing like flying into the tribe for the first time and seeing firsthand the things that God is doing among the people to make one feel grateful-grateful for the missionaries, the pilots, and for the grace of God to see His good work accomplished among the nations. 
