JAARS, a missionary aviation organization based in Waxhaw, North Carolina, is partnering with Samaritan's Purse in Haiti by providing a crew of three Kodiak aircraft pilots, a helicopter pilot, and two maintenance personnel.

JAARS pilots flew the Samaritan’s Purse Kodiak to Haiti, where it is operating out of a location maintained by Mission Aviation Fellowship, another partner organization. The airplane, which is capable of landing on short, unpaved airstrips, is used to deliver relief personnel, equipment, and supplies to distribution sites outside Port-au-Prince.

The helicopter, which was flown to Haiti last week, is based on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince and is used primarily to move medical teams around the area, since many roads remain blocked.

JAARS pilots Steve Ottaviano, Gerry Gardner, Mark Wuerffel, and Daryl Bussert will rotate with others for three to four weeks at a time. JAARS mechanics Jim Metzler and Merle Busenitz will spend time in Haiti as needed for aircraft maintenance.

WSOC-TV in Charlotte had a story and video about the JAARS crew as they prepared to depart for Haiti.

Samaritan's Purse , Help for Haiti , Aviation Partner

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