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by Jim Kincaid

Northwestern Aviation, Inc., of Kotzebue, Alaska, was reborn as Northwestern Aviation Services, Inc., on the 9th of July. The charter company had been shut down three years ago when the owner retired. There were major questions: Is the steady, loyal customer base long gone? Will they return? If not, will other customers emerge to make the new operation successful? The plan has been to strike a symbiotic balance between missions and business in such a way as to provide well-equipped aircraft and highly qualified pilots for mission efforts. Sacred history is full of stories that recount God’s blessing of business dedicated to the support of His work. This model has been practiced for decades by Mission Aviation Fellowship and other individuals and agencies, including Bob Roberts of Adventist Aviation in Indonesia, and Adventist Aviation Services in Papua New Guinea, where commercial flying subsidizes a significant amount of the mission flying.

	Left to right: John Payne, pilot; Jonathan Kincaid, Director of Operations; and Jim Kincaid, Owner/Certificate Holder.

 In May of this year, the aircraft operations division of Northwestern Aviation, Inc., was purchased, including one Cessna 206 and some ground support equipment. With amazing rapidity, which only God could accomplish, the FAA issued a revised operating certificate and approved three pilots for Northwestern Aviation Services, Inc. Insurance was obtained and the doors were opened for business on July 9, 2007. Our faith was tested for about two weeks, during which the new phone did not ring and the door was not darkened by a single customer. And the clock was ticking toward the first payment of insurance premiums, office rent, and many other obligations, including housing.

Praise God, the answers to prayer came in a flood, beginning around the 25th of July. The deluge began in the form of a relationship with a new mining exploration site, a few native subsistence camp charters, and some remote site passengers. By the end of September we were approved for government agency support. The yearly camping, berry picking, hunting, and fishing season ended with almost more business than we could handle!

   Things have slowed quite a bit as we’ve moved into the snow season, but a steady flow of work still comes our way. We praise God for the opportunity to utilize His assets in a way that supports their use in expanding mission activities to the native communities.

   We now have four pilots approved who are serving on a rotation basis during the winter. Jonathan Kincaid is the Chief Pilot and Director of Operations. John Payne is serving along with Robert Gordon, Jr., who, besides flying, is the Director of Maintenance. I am designated as the Agent of Service and Company Flight Instructor. 

AWA's Cessna 206

    The arrangement between AWA-Alaska and Northwestern Aviation Services includes the lease of AWA-Alaska’s Cessna 206, which was rebuilt and funded largely by local donors.On its 29-inch tires, the airplane is very versatile, allowing access to remote villages as well as hunting/fishing/camping sites. Many local mission flights have been made at Northwestern Aviation Services’ expense and many others have been heavily subsidized, proving the value and effectiveness of the plan. 

   Northwestern Aviation Services, Inc., by its very existence is a testimony to the community. It is the only air service in Kotzebue that is completely closed for one day—Saturday. The local FAA Operations Inspector is impressed by our commitment to rest on one day. He believes our pilot staff will be more rested and sharper because of this decision.

   We praise God for his blessing and for the privilege of flying in one of the most beautiful parts of Alaska, providing a desperately needed service to visitors and residents alike.