Newsletter
October 2025
Major Leap Forward: Harvest Aviation is set to acquire FAA Part 135 Certificate!
We are thrilled to share a significant update on our journey to resume missionary aviation flights to Central America and the Caribbean! As many of you know, securing an FAA Part 135 Charter Certificate has been a critical step to getting our planes back in the air. We are now in the final stages of acquiring Public Charters, Inc., operating as Regional Sky, a charter business based in Willkes – Barre, PA, which has been operating since 2015. Obtaining this certificate is essential for operating our missionary flights legally. This is a massive undertaking, and our team has been working tirelessly on multiple fronts to get all the necessary components in place.
Key Milestones Achieved
Our dedicated team has accomplished several major milestones to make this transition a reality:
New Aircraft Secured: Thanks to our generous donors, we have purchased a Piper Chieftain to serve as our primary aircraft to launch this new endeavor.
New For-Profit Wing: Harvest Aviation established a C-Corporation called Peace River Aviation. This new entity will operate the charter business, allowing us to serve local communities while generating funds to help support our staff members and missionary flights.
Aircraft Ready for Charter: Andrés and the maintenance team performed extensive maintenance on the Piper Chieftain, bringing it up to the extremely high standards required for charter operations.
Key FAA Positions Filled: Board Member Michael Burch stepped into the required role of Director of Operations, Rick Harsche will continue the role of Chief Pilot, and Tyler Weaver took on the role of Director of Maintenance.
FAA Manuals Approved: Victor D’Ettorre and Mike Burch completed multiple updates and revisions to our Training Manual and the General Operations Manual (GOM), all of which have been officially approved by the FAA.
Aircraft Documentation Submitted: Tyler Weaver and Andrés Nieto compiled and submitted all necessary aircraft maintenance paperwork to the FAA for compliance review, moving us closer to officially adding our aircraft to the charter certificate. Once the compliance review is complete and the aircraft is approved by the FAA, we can resume missionary flights.
Partner Spotlight: MMS Aviation
We are grateful to be partnering with MMS Aviation for our engine overhaul. If you are not familiar with the excellent work they do for missionary aviation organizations, we encourage you to check out their ministry: https://mmsaviation.org
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Urgent Prayer and Funding Requests
Financial Needs
Certificate Purchase Funding: We urgently need to raise $250,000 to complete the purchase of the Part 135 company. By giving today, you will play a direct and pivotal role in helping us secure this crucial certificate—bringing us one step closer to resuming life-changing missionary flights that deliver hope, resources, and the Gospel to people in need. Every dollar you contribute has an immediate impact on the success of this mission.
Engine Overhaul: Our aircraft engine overhaul, performed by MMS Aviation, is essential for maintaining safe and reliable operations. Your additional financial support will ensure our planes remain ready to serve, enabling us to continue reaching remote communities with critical aid and the Gospel. Your gift in this area directly supports our ability to fly—transforming lives and making a tangible difference.
Team and Operation Prayers
Staff Funding: Please pray for the financial support needed for our current staff members, including our newest members, Matt and Jolynn Brimson. Matt will be coming on as a pilot apprentice.
Pilot Approval: Pray for Brian Smith as he prepares for and takes his check ride with the FAA to be approved as a Pilot in Command, which will allow us to begin charter flight operations.
Staff Needs: Please pray for additional staff needs to include pilots and mechanics.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we press forward with this major endeavor to get the Gospel into the hands of those in remote regions. Will you help us reach our goal of raising $250,000 to complete the purchase of the Part 135 charter company? Your support today plays a vital role in launching these vital operations.
