Roles for Missionary Aviation Maintenance Technicians and Pilots
Missionary work is one of the most rewarding paths one chooses for their life.
When someone feels God’s call to missions, their ultimate goal is to share the good news of Jesus with people around the world.
There are many different forms of missionary work. Two areas we wish to highlight here are aviation maintenance technicians and missionary pilots.
When considering a career in aviation, the first thing that comes to someone’s mind is becoming a pilot.
What is a Missionary Pilot?
A day on the job of a missionary pilot is ever-changing. It often consists of flying planes with other missionaries or supplies to various locations around the world. Many of these locations are in remote areas.
Missionary pilot training is more than just becoming a pilot. You will receive advanced pilot training given the nature of the environment and geographic locations of your flights.
Students must also complete specific hours of training, as well as learn technical and professional skills.
Missionary pilot programs are offered at different institutions around the United States. The School of Missionary Aviation Technology, or SMAT, offers a program that is well-recognized among mission organizations.
SMAT offers a professional, certified curriculum in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Students benefit from small class sizes in which strong, lasting relationships are built with instructors and fellow students.
What is an Aviation Maintenance Technician?
Another role you can go into if you’re interested in missionary aviation is becoming a missionary aviation maintenance technician.
Aviation Maintenance Technicians, or AMTs, are truly the backbone of flying. Without AMTs, no one gets to fly.
Aviation Maintenance Technicians are the ones who provide invaluable maintenance support for the team.
Aviation Maintenance Technician Training
Our technicians are equipped with the knowledge and skills to be professional aircraft mechanics. They are the ones who repair and maintain the aircraft.
Interested in an Aviation Maintenance Technician school? SMAT offers a full-time Aviation Maintenance Technician training program that can be completed in just one year.
The program is FAA approved and provides training and preparation for the FAA written, oral, and practical tests. You will gain practical experience in aircraft maintenance that you will bring into your future missions career.
Visit our website pages to learn more about our missions-driven flight training and maintenance training programs today.
After Graduating From Maintenance Technician and Pilot Programs
Graduates from SMAT’s programs connect with other organizations to get their final training and orientation before heading to their destination countries.
Three examples of these organizations are:
- Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF)
- JAARS – the transportation, communication, and logistics support branch of Wycliffe Bible Translators
- Ethnos360 Aviation (formerly New Tribes Mission Aviation)
These organizations help our graduates get on the right track in their pursuit of a career in mission aviation.
All of these organizations speak highly of SMAT graduates that they have worked with, and are seeking more individuals who have this calling to serve in missions as a pilot or technician.
There are also postgraduate opportunities for SMAT students to apply for placement as an A&P technician in our flight operations and maintenance services.
Working as an A&P technician at SMAT provides an opportunity for our graduates to sharpen their skills in a practical field experience training environment.
Post-graduate employment at SMAT Aviation can provide an opportunity to sharpen inspection and diagnostic skills.
The following paragraphs provide greater detail about 3 of the key organizations that work with SMAT graduates in helping them prepare for service in foreign countries.
About Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF)
Mission Aviation Fellowship is a Christian organization that helps millions of people around the world who struggle with geographic barriers.
MAF pilots/mechanics and aircraft mechanics use their skills to share the love of Jesus Christ with isolated people. Our pilots bring hope and healing through the holistic ministry of MAF.
MAF pilots/mechanics fly in very remote and often rugged locations. It is essential that they are able to maintain their aircraft.
There are 13 countries that MAF-US serves.
MAF International partners with sister organizations that work together in 34 different countries.
Work we do:
- Medical Care
- Community Development
- Education
- Church Support
- Disaster Response
- Technology
- Making Disciples
- Training
- Bible Translation
You can learn about what it takes to be a MAF pilot/mechanic on their website.
About JAARS
JAARS is committed to the belief that people’s lives and communities are transformed as they experience God’s Word in their own language.
From pilot training and mission aviation services to remote technology and communications support. We provide off-the-grid logistical solutions that help make Bible translation possible.
JAARS uses aviation to solve critical translation challenges around the world.
Their mission is to solve transportation needs as fast as possible. They focus on locally appropriate, sustainable solutions that represent thoughtful stewardship that make it possible.
We work for families and communities to safely and effectively spread the Word of the Lord.
About Ethnos360 Aviation
Ethnos360 Aviation uses aviation to spread the Gospel to see a thriving church in all people groups. Their core purpose is to assist the church in planting their ministries and like-minded ministries through the use of aviation.
The goal is to establish thriving groups of trained believers who can reach neighboring villages and beyond with the gospel.
We help to sustain people through aviation in a multitude of ways,
- Bring food and supplies
- Transports translation and church planting consultants
- Takes children to and from school
- Acts as an ambulance for medical emergencies
- Carry goods and commodities
- Brings relief in times of natural disasters
School of Missionary Aviation Technology
SMAT offers professional aviation training that equips individuals to serve God and others through aviation.
Our program allows individuals to achieve their goals in glorifying God and serving those in need through ministry.
The aviation technology training you will receive at SMAT will help you to meet your goals through a mission-driven curriculum.
At SMAT, students benefit from small class sizes where they build strong, lasting relationships with their instructors.
You can apply to one of SMAT’s aviation programs online today at, https://smat.edu/apply-today/.