The ability to communicate is important to all of us, but is often a vital need to pilots and Bible translators. The radios used by pioneer Bible translators weighed about 50 lbs., and the generators needed to run them weighed 150 lbs. Two hundred pounds of equipment isn't easily portable. For years translators have been using them for two-way communication in areas still without telephones.
Radio is for ordering groceries and making transportation plans.
It's for telling the pilot what sort of weather to expect and keeping coworkers informed so they can pray. It's for getting help from the linguistic or translation consultant when translation difficulties seem insurmountable. It's for boosting morale, in a hundred different ways. Like when Mom and Dad in the village chat each week with their kids in school back at the Center. Like knowing emergency help is as close as a radio call.