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Frequently Asked Questions
About Mission Aviation in General
What are the requirements to become a missionary pilot, and how do I get started?
What does a typical week on the field look like as a mission pilot?
Where would you recommend for A&P training?
I’m not a pilot, is there any way that I can help?
I can’t serve Full-time, is there any way that I can help?
What kinds of Airplanes are used?
About Proclaim Aviation Ministries
What denomination (s) are you affiliated with?
Do you have a Statement of Faith?
Now that I have completed my college degree I am anxious to get to the missions field. However, as most pilots in my shoes, I have 240 hours and large school loans. What are the details of how your organization might be able to help me get to the missions field?
What sort of flying would I be doing?
Does Proclaim provide additional flight ratings?
What are the requirements to become a missionary pilot, and how do I get started?
In general most mission aviation organizations are looking for someone that has: 15 hours of Bible Credits,Commercial Pilots license, A&P rating (mechanics)
There are a variety of ways to obtain those prerequisites, but if you are considering a “package” deal here are several options:
There are several school options that offer a "packaged" program geared to someone desiring to enter into mission aviation, they include:
Moody Aviation
6719 E Rutter Ave #68
Spokane, WA 99212
Web Site: http://www.moodyav.org/
School of Missionary Aviation Technology
730 Lincoln Lake Road
Lowell, MI 49331-9417
Web Site: http://www.smat-aviation.org/
LeTourneau University
2100 S Mobberly Ave
PO Box 7001
Longview, TX 75607-7001
Web Site: http://www.letu.edu/
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What does a typical week on the field look like as a mission pilot?
General guidance: Some mission aviation organizations have their pilots stay and help with the missionaries on site. Therefore one week could be intense flying, while another week could be spent helping to assist at one location. Others have a rigorous flight schedule that primarily keeps a pilot transporting medical patients, supplies, nationals, and missionaries. If the schedule does slow down with flying, then a pilot will normally help in the shop doing maintenance. It is doubtful that there are 2 weeks that are consistent in mission aviation. Some people operate well in situations that are “fluid” and others need a more constant scheduled approach. Obviously there are also factors outside of our control that dramatically (and more than not routinely) change schedules such as natural disasters, and instability of a countries political system. There are several books that might be helpful to see if you have them at your library: In the Air for Him by Ruth Scheltema, Into the Glory by Jamie Buckingham.
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Where would you recommend for A&P training
As far as and A&P school, I believe that the School of Missionary Aviation Technology (SMAT) is the only one offering a 1 year course at this point. Both Moody Aviation and Letourneau University have very reputable programs. There is a unique internship program that Missionary Maintenance Service has to get your mechanics training as well (3 years). Some mission organizations are flexing on your requirement to have an A&P, so you might want to do a little research into which organization you are interested in.
Moody Aviation
6719 E Rutter Ave #68
Spokane, WA 99212
Web Site: http://www.moodyav.org/
Missionary Maintenance Services
P.O. Box 1118
Coshocton, OH 43812-6118
Web Site: http://www.mmsaviation.org/
School of Missionary Aviation Technology
730 Lincoln Lake Road
Lowell, MI 49331-9417
Web Site: www.smat-aviation.org/
LeTourneau University
2100 S Mobberly Ave
PO Box 7001
Longview, TX 75607-7001
Web Site: http://www.letu.edu/
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I’m not a pilot, is there any way that I can help?
Yes! Missionary Aviation is not just for pilots and mechanics. It requires all kinds of support personnel with a variety of gifts: accountants, administrators, secretaries, builders, teachers, computer geeks, dispatchers, almost anyone can have a part. Some people are needed to perform these tasks overseas and others to serve in the home offices. Equally important are those who support the work with financial contributions and by prayer.
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I can’t serve Full-time, is there any way that I can help?
Yes! There are often opportunities for people with needed skills to help out on special projects short-term (a week to several months). These opportunities usually don’t include flying, but may include aircraft maintenance, building projects, airstrip construction, medical ministry, and similar projects. There are also limited opportunities here in the United States. Some organizations help ministries with regional transportation or cross border trips to adjacent countries. There are also volunteer organizations in the US that use airplanes to provide medical transportation or meet similar needs locally or regionally.
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What kinds of Airplanes are used?
Over the past couple of decades, the Cessna 206 has been and continues to be the most widely used missionary airplane. Most have been highly modified to improve performance and safety. Most makes and models of single engine and light twins have been used from time to time. Airplanes as large as the DC-3 are also used. Today, missions are increasing shifting to turbine powered airplanes as avgas is unavailable or expensive in most of the world. Cessna Caravans, Beech King Airs, Palatus products, and the new Quest Kodiak are all popular.
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How is Mission Aviation Financed?
Since the people served are among the poorest of the world, they cannot be expected to bear the high cost of aviation. Ultimately, most of the expenses are paid by donations, either directly to the organization, or donations to the organizations and individuals that use the service. Missionary pilots, mechanics, and other staff typically are also fund raisers by finding those willing to underwrite their salary and expenses and often some of the organizational costs.
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What denomination (s) are you affiliated with?
Proclaim Aviation Ministries is non-denominational mission that works with Christian evangelical organizations.
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Do you have a Statement of Faith?
We believe:
· The Bible to be the inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God, the original autographs of which were verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21)
· There is one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 8:6).
· In the deity of Jesus Christ, which is to say He is Himself very God; His virgin birth, perfect life, redeeming death, bodily Resurrection, heavenly intercession and His personal return. (Colossians 1:15; Philippians 2:5-8; Matthew 1:18-25; 1 Peter 2:24-25; Luke 24; Hebrews 4:14-16; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 11:15-17; 20:4-6, 11-15).
· The universal sinfulness and guilt of mankind, rendering all subject to God’s wrath and condemnation. The necessity of new birth as the work of God the Holy Spirit, to be obtained only by receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, through faith, not by works; by whose sacrificial death atonement was made for the sins of the whole world and whereby alone men are redeemed from the guilt, penalty and power of sin. (Romans 3:10, 23 John 3:3; John 14:6; Acts 13:38-39; John 3:16)
· The spiritual unity of all believers as comprising the true Church; The supreme mission being to glorify God and to preach the gospel to every person. (Acts 2:41; 15:13-17; Ephesians 1:3-6; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:6-8).
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Now that I have completed my college degree I am anxious to get to the missions field. However, as most pilots in my shoes, I have 240 hours and large school loans. What are the details of how your organization might be able to help me get to the missions field?
Proclaim’s program is specifically designed to help a candidate gain additional flight and maintenance “real world” experience. Generally we work with individuals that have a heart to serve in missions, have all of the required ratings, but lack the required flight hours or maintenance experience to apply. A typical new commercial pilot has around 250 flight hours. Generally a mission organization will not work with a pilot until they have 500 flight hours. Proclaim will arrange an internship that will allow the pilot to gain flight time through pilot service and flight instruction, as well as the required maintenance skills. The internship is based on existing ratings (as Proclaim does not train for required ratings). Typically after a year in Proclaim the candidate will move directly into their overseas mission agency.
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What sort of flying would I be doing?
Primary flight building is accomplished serving as a flight instructor, and through pilot service. A typical pilot will average 250-500 hours a year.
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Does Proclaim provide additional flight ratings?
No. Proclaim specifically works with someone that has all of their ratings (required by the mission organization that they are planning on serving with), but they need additional "real world" experience as a mechanic and more flight hours. Generally, candidates will be entered into a 1 year program that will help them gain an additional 250-500 hours as well as shop proficiency, and them they will transition into full time service with their mission organization.
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