The Helicopter Podcast
Welcome to The Helicopter Podcast, with your host Halsey Schider!This podcast is for helicopter pilots, maintainers, and enthusiasts! Whether you've been in the industry for 30 years or are just someone that loves helicopters, this podcast is for you! The podcasts will feature guests from a wide array of industry sectors to have casual conversation, answer questions, give sound advice, and talk shop. Finally, a podcast produced by helicopter professionals for all types of helicopter people!
The Helicopter Podcast
Episode #157 - Remote Mission Flying with JAARS: Jeff and Gavin - The Helicopter Podcast
Welcome to The Helicopter Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS!
In this special two-guest episode of The Helicopter Podcast, host Halsey Schider welcomes Gavin Jones and Jeff Johnson from JAARS (Jungle Aviation and Relay Service), a mission-based organization using aviation to support Bible translation in remote, unreached language groups. Gavin shares his lifelong passion for helicopters, sparked at age six in Colombia, leading to 18 years in Papua New Guinea flying Bell LongRangers and fixed-wing aircraft.
Jeff recounts his 39-year career, starting in Liberia and transitioning to helicopters at JAARS' North Carolina base. They discuss the demands of single-pilot operations in inaccessible areas, emphasizing PIC integrity, self-sufficiency, and decision-making under pressure.
From a medevac flight saving a mother in labor to a tense refueling incident with hostile villagers, their stories highlight the challenges and rewards of blending aviation expertise with spiritual purpose. Tune into this episode of The Helicopter Podcast to learn pathways to mission flying, and the transformative impact it has on isolated communities!
Thank you to our sponsors Robinson, Vertical Aviation International and Metro Aviation.
Listen closely for your chance to win awesome prizes from Heli Life! Throughout 2025, every episode of The Helicopter Podcast will reveal a secret word. Once you catch it, head to contests.verticalhelicasts.com to enter!