What makes us tick:
The corporation was established in 1996 to provide focused specialized training and support for individuals to acquire the necessary background and experience to be better prepared for service as humanitarian aviation missionaries. This vision came as a reaction to a meeting of leaders at an annual meeting of the International Association of Missionary Aviation (IAMA) in 1995. Globally, the need for specialized pilot/mechanics to assist in the ongoing mission to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ is acute. There are numerous organizations currently established that desire dedicated individuals that posses the skills required to meet the demands of a humanitarian aviation missionary. Interlace stepped forward to meet this need.
In October 1996, Interlace built a formal relationship with Mercy Air Ambulance (a division of Catholic Health Care West) located in Redding, California to provide contract aviation maintenance technician services for their air ambulance fleet (3 complex twin engine aircraft and one helicopter).
During our tenure with Mercy Air Ambulance we became aware of the unmet needs of the Native American’s in Northern California related to health/wellness education and extended health services to increase access to quality and affordable health care. This knowledge prompted the Board of Directors to broaden our scope of services and currently working with the Tribal Consortium and other Humanitarian organizations to develop and deliver services that target the identified needs.
Our experience in aviation will be fully utilized as the use of aviation transportation has been identified as an exceptional tool to directly contribute to our initiative as indicated by primary and secondary research. In one study conducted from 1999 to 2001, the United States Office of Public Health compiled a report to define needs of the Native Indian Tribes. This report, titled "Quantifying the Un-met Need in IHS/Tribal EMS" has repeated quotes such as, "The IHS EMS Branch should work with Area Offices, Service Units, and Tribes to explore other cost effective methods for innovative purchase or lease of ground and air ambulance resources (Office of Public Heath, 2001, p.58)."
In the establishment of aviation services, Interlace has formalized a plan where related services to the general public can provide a mechanism to maintain financial self-sustainability while directly supporting the primary initiative. Therefore this service will not detract funding for the Tribal Consortium effort.
Training:
The collective services not only will provide direct services to the Northern California Native Americans but also create a vehicle to continue in our original mission to provide aviation and life skills training for individuals seeking skill sets to better prepare them for missionary and humanitarians work locally or globally. This will assist in developing a strong volunteerism program to assist in sustaining the effort.
Success is possible through a collective effort:
"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken" -Ecclesiastes 4:12
Joseph Lockwood, an Interlace trainee, interned twice with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) with his service to Ecuador.View a letter from our missionary!
(Updated: October 24th, 2005)
