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{{Short description|Christian organization}}
{{Infobox organization
| name                     = JAARS, Inc.
| image                    = 
| image_size               = 200px
| type                     = Non-profit
| headquarters             = [[Waxhaw, North Carolina]]
| founded_date             = 1948 as Jungle Aviation and Relay Service
| founder                  = [[William Cameron Townsend]]
| location                 = 7405 Jaars Road, [[Waxhaw, North Carolina|Waxhaw]], North Carolina, USA
| coordinates              = {{Coord|34.864771|-80.741808|format=dms}}
| leader_title             = President and CEO
| leader_name              = [[Steve Russell (politician)|Steve Russell]]
| area_served              = World Wide
| revenue                  = > US$9,830,256<ref>{{cite web|url=https://db.ministrywatch.com/ministry.php?ein=560818833|title=JAARS, Inc|access-date=2025-05-23|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250519205103/https://db.ministrywatch.com/ministry.php?ein=560818833|archive-date=2025-05-19}} at www.ministrywatch.com</ref>
| website                  = jaars.org
}}[[File:JAARS Center Feb2022.png|thumb|250x250px|JAARS Base and Townsend Field (N52), Waxhaw, North Carolina]]JAARS (Jungle Aviation and Relay Service) is a non-profit Christian mission aviation organization with a primary focus on support operations for Bible translation. JAARS collaborates with a number of trusted mission organizations—including Wycliffe Bible Translators, the Seed Company, and many of the mission organizations that comprise the Wycliffe Global Alliance—who face geographical barriers that make it difficult to reach and work with remote people groups that do not yet have the Bible in their own languages.

JAARS focuses its operations on the worldwide “green band” of rainforest regions. This geographical area sits just north and south of the equator and stretches from east to west around the globe, encapsulating rainforest regions in South America, Africa, and the South Pacific. The green band includes regions with mountainous terrain, wide expanses of open ocean, treacherous rivers, few roads and little public transportation or communications infrastructure. Using special-purpose aircraft, boats and off-road vehicles, JAARS enables partners to overcome these barriers. 

[[Steve Russell (politician)|Steve Russell]] is President and CEO of JAARS.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leadership |url=https://www.jaars.org/leadership/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023224113/https://www.jaars.org/about/leadership/ |archive-date=2022-10-23 |access-date=2022-10-23 |website=JAARS |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 6, 2023 |title=Fueled by aviation, Steve Russell is on a mission to spread the Gospel |url=https://www.southwestledger.news/news/fueled-aviation-steve-russell-mission-spread-gospel |access-date=December 13, 2024 |website=Southwest Ledger News}}</ref>

== History ==
[[William Cameron Townsend]] co-founded [[Wycliffe Bible Translators]] and the [[SIL Global|Summer Institute of Linguistics]] (SIL) in 1934. As the Bible translation work of these organizations grew in a number of remote rainforest regions in Latin America, Townsend recognized the need for float-plane transport to provide safe access to language groups in those areas. He also determined that Bible translators and language workers in the field needed short-wave radio service to communicate with their home base. He founded Jungle Aviation and Radio Service (JAARS) in 1948 to provide those support services in Latin America. 

In 1961, after many years of service in Latin America, JAARS moved its headquarters to its current location in Waxhaw, North Carolina. The 630 acres of land where JAARS is located began as a 200-acre donation by the [[Belk]] family. 

In 1986, as a result of diversifying activities, JAARS officially dropped the original meaning behind the acronym and became simply JAARS. In 2023 JAARS marked its 75<sup>th</sup> anniversary with a slight adjustment to its name to incorporate its 75-year heritage: '''Jungle Aviation and Relay Service'''.

==Operations and activities==
[[File:Cessna Caravan 208 JAARS.jpg|thumb|[[Cessna 208 Caravan|Cessna Caravan 208]] undergoing maintenance at the JAARS Center]]

===JAARS Base===
The JAARS North Carolina headquarters, also called the JAARS Base, is operated by over 400 people on 630 acres, encompassing 68 buildings. The JAARS Base serves as the home for the organization's core operations. 

The JAARS airport is registered with the FAA as JAARS-Townsend Airport ([[Federal Aviation Administration|FAA]] [[Location identifier|LID]]: '''N52'''), a public-use airport. The public-use runway is 3,309' x 40' listed as good asphalt. Additionally, JAARS uses three grass runways for standards training.[[File:JAARS Helio Couriers Feb2022.png|thumb|250x250px|[[Helio Courier]]s at Townsend Field at the JAARS Center.]]
===Aviation===
[[File:JAARS PilatusPC6 Feb2022.png|thumb|250x250px|[[Pilatus PC-6 Porter]] at Townsend Field, JAARS Base, Waxhaw, North Carolina.]]
[[File:JAARS R66 Feb2022.png|thumb|250x250px|[[Robinson R66]] Turbine Helicopter training at the JAARS Base.]]
The JAARS Air Operations team supports its field partners by providing critical training for pilots, mechanics, and avionics technicians who serve in remote, off-the-grid locations. JAARS also helps its field partners start and operate local aviation programs by training staff, setting standards, equipping aircraft, research, and more.

These field partners in turn offer transportation services to a range of individuals, including Bible [[translators]], support staff, consultants, trainers, [[Linguistics|linguists]], Christian mission organizations, hospitals, local communities, and governments. Their services can also include medical evacuations and disaster relief work.

JAARS' aviation partners fly a variety of aircraft, including:
* [[Bell 206#LongRanger|Bell Long Ranger]] [[helicopter]], flown by in [[Papua New Guinea]]
* [[Robinson R66]] [[helicopter]], flown at the JAARS Base and by SIL International in [[Cameroon]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=JAARS and Revolution bringing good news to Africa |url=https://verticalmag.com/press-releases/jaars-revolution-bringing-good-news-africa/ |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Vertical Mag |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Cessna 172]], flown at the JAARS Base
* [[Cessna 206]], flown at the JAARS Base and by partners in [[Brazil]], Cameroon, and Papua New Guinea

* [[Cessna 208 Caravan]], flown by YAJASI in [[Indonesia]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Lindner |first=Bill |date=2024-12-10 |title=Light-sport Aircraft Help Missionaries Reach The Unreachable |url=https://avgeekery.com/light-sport-aircraft-help-missionaries-reach-the-unreachable/ |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Avgeekery.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

* [[Helio Courier]], flown at the JAARS Base

* [[Pilatus PC-12]], flown by YAJASI in [[Indonesia]]
* [[Pilatus PC-6]], flown at the JAARS Base and by YAJASI in Indonesia<ref name=":0" />
* [[Quest Kodiak]], flown in [[Papua New Guinea]]<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=JAARS Receives Their First KODIAK Aircraft |url=https://kodiakcare.aero/news/newsroom/jaars-receives-their-first-kodiak-aircraft/ |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=KODIAKCare |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715153108/https://kodiakcare.aero/news/newsroom/jaars-receives-their-first-kodiak-aircraft/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

JAARS was one of fifteen organizations that financed the prototyping and development of the [[Quest Kodiak]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Ioannou|first=Lori|title=A Turboprop Built for Trouble|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1938737-1,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813063141/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1938737-1,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 13, 2012|magazine=Time Magazine|accessdate=14 November 2012|date=23 November 2009}}</ref> JAARS also developed S-Seats, a seat for [[St-Just Super-Cyclone|Bushliner 1850]] that enhanced the crashworthiness and adaptability of the aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-23 |title=Bushliner strikes deal for seats developed by mission aviation organization — General Aviation News |url=https://generalaviationnews.com/2024/01/23/bushliner-strikes-deal-for-seats-developed-by-mission-aviation-organization/ |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=generalaviationnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pilot |first=Plane & |date=2024-01-17 |title=Bushliner, JAARS Want You to Pick Your Safety Seat |url=https://www.planeandpilotmag.com/bushliner-jaars-want-you-to-pick-your-safety-seat/ |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Plane & Pilot Magazine |language=en |archive-date=2024-09-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908040522/https://www.planeandpilotmag.com/bushliner-jaars-want-you-to-pick-your-safety-seat/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilder |first=Amy |date=2024-01-17 |title=Bushliner Teams Up with JAARS to Create Safer Seats |url=https://www.flyingmag.com/bushliner-teams-up-with-jaars-to-create-safer-seats/ |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=FLYING Magazine |language=en |archive-date=2024-06-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613224423/https://www.flyingmag.com/bushliner-teams-up-with-jaars-to-create-safer-seats/ |url-status=live }}</ref> JAARS also transported tons of supplies in the aftermath of [[Hurricane Helene]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Michel |first=Deeandra |date=2024-10-02 |title=Local Organization That Flies In And Out Of Remote Jungles Puts Skills To Use In The NC Mountains |url=https://www.wccbcharlotte.com/2024/10/01/local-organization-that-flies-in-and-out-of-remote-jungles-puts-skills-to-use-in-the-nc-mountains/ |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=WCCB Charlotte's CW |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003055948/https://www.wccbcharlotte.com/2024/10/01/local-organization-that-flies-in-and-out-of-remote-jungles-puts-skills-to-use-in-the-nc-mountains/ |url-status=live }}</ref>[[File:JAARS Cessna 206.jpg|thumb|One of the two [[Cessna 206]] aircraft in the JAARS training fleet.]]'''Land Operations'''

The JAARS Land Operations team helps Bible translators and other missionaries travel safely by land with 4WD vehicles, motorbikes, and training in off-road driving and vehicle maintenance.

'''Sea Operations'''

The JAARS Sea Operations team provides boats, safety equipment, and water-safety training to Bible translators and other missionaries who travel on remote waters.

==Museum==
The Alphabet Museum is located in the Shipman Building at the JAARS Base in [[Waxhaw, North Carolina]]. The museum was established in 1991 by JAARS founder [[William Cameron Townsend]] and focuses on the development of the world's [[Alphabet|alphabets]] and the history of writing systems and written languages. Exhibits include maps, paintings, sculptures, a replica of the [[Rosetta Stone]], a [[Torah]] scroll that is over 150 years old and a handmade lyre. The languages covered include [[Greek language|Greek]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]], [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Cyrillic language|Cyrillic]] and [[African languages]].

The newly reopened Cardenas Building (named for former Mexican president [[Lázaro Cárdenas]]) features all-new exhibits that tell the story of JAARS.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Christian missions]]
[[Category:Evangelical parachurch organizations]]
[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Union County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1948]]