Aviation Professionals

You want to serve as a mission aviator. But how do you know which mission to choose?  Here’s why you might decide on Ethnos360 Aviation.

Supporting Church Planting

Ethnos360 Aviation supports pioneer church planting teams who spend a couple of decades reaching remote people groups.  To endure in such a demanding ministry, these teams rely on aviation to sustain them. We need pilots, mechanics and other personnel with the determination to see the missionaries all the way through, until the Bible translation is complete and a thriving church exists in each people group. 

 Equipped for a New Location

To equip you to that end, we want you to be as prepared as possible for the job — not just in aviation skills but in cross-cultural living. Ethnos360 will give you the tools you need to succeed at learning a new language, thriving in a foreign culture and working to support the church planting effort.

 Trained and Ready

At Ethnos360 Aviation headquarters in McNeal, Arizona, you will get advanced training in preparation to serve in an overseas location.  Experienced instructors will offer not only aviation skills but the valuable soft skills you need to be a part of a successful aviation team.  You’ll also build relationships with veteran missionary staff members who can give insight into the challenges ahead. 

Ethnos360 Aviation sends well-trained, spiritually and technically qualified aviation professionals who are committed missionaries and who, for the vision and ministry of Ethnos360 worldwide, are willing to count the cost and go wherever Ethnos360 and its partners need our service.

Airplane Pilot - need 6

• Commercial Pilot certificate
• Instrument Rating
• 300 hours PIC (Pilot in Command)
• Aircraft Mechanic certificate (A&P, AME or equivalent) with one-year general aviation maintenance experience required in most cases.

Helicopter Pilot - need 10

• Commercial Helicopter Pilot certificate
• 500 hours PIC helicopter
• Aircraft Mechanic certificate (A&P, AME or equivalent) with one-year general aviation maintenance experience required in most cases.

Maintenance Specialist - need 10

• Aircraft Mechanic certificate (A&P, AME or equivalent)
• Two years general aviation maintenance experience (IA certificate preferred)

Avionics Technician - need 1

Associate Degree in Electronics or Avionics (or equivalent experience)

FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License (General Class or higher amateur radio license also recommended)

Minimum of one-year electronics/avionics experience after obtaining degree

Airframe rating is preferred (A&P, AME or equivalent)

All candidates for service with Ethnos360 Aviation must complete missionary training with Ethnos360 and undergo a knowledge, skills and attributes (KSA) evaluation with Ethnos360 Aviation. Pilot candidates should have begun flight training before age 30.

All Ethnos360 Aviation personnel must first become members of Ethnos360.  If you are interested in talking to someone about one of these positions or requirements, please contact Dwight Brown, Director of Personnel, at 407-580-7098.

Through specific and clear-cut training, Ethnos360 Aviation prepares you to be a successful part of supporting long-term pioneer church planting efforts in remote parts of the world.  Training in Bible and missions will thoroughly ground you in the “why” of Ethnos360’s church planting goal. 

Cross-cultural training will prepare you to thrive in a third-world setting and to function well on a multi-national aviation team.  We want you to have the confidence and competence to function either on a team or, when necessary, in a small program where you may be operating alone.

Bible Education

2 years of Bible training or the equivalent

A firm Biblical understanding will help you stand behind the church planting work that Ethnos360 is doing. Is this a message that you deem worthy of your life and service?

A firm Biblical understanding is essential so that your life reflects the same message as your teammates and those you are serving in church planting ministries.

Talk with a candidate coach at Ethnos360’s Connection Center (800-856-6053) to evaluate the Bible credits and life and church experience that you have already accumulated.

Ethnos360 Aviation Candidate Evaluation

• During a week at Ethnos360 Aviation headquarters in Arizona, we will evaluate your technical aviation skills.  Also through interviews with you and your spouse, we’ll present a realistic portrayal of the work that Ethnos360 Aviation does in support of pioneer church planting.  We’ll lay out accurate expectations of the type of ministry ahead and what it will take to serve successfully.  We’ll evaluate you and your family’s alignment with Ethnos360 Aviation values, mission and model of service. 
• During this week, you’ll gain an accurate view of the type of ministry ahead so that you understand the family dynamics, spiritual maturity, willingness to sacrifice and ability to work with others which are required to serve successfully. 
• At the same time, you will evaluate Ethnos360 Aviation.  Are we the type of ministry that you can get behind and wholeheartedly serve with?

 Mission Training Course (MTC), Camdenton, Missouri or Emanate in Canada

1 year

Ethnos360 is a global organization made up of many nationalities working together. Besides living in a foreign culture, you will likely work with multinational teams.  Your leaders themselves may be nationals, and the North American way will not be the normal way we operate. 

MTC in the USA or Emanate in Canada will give you the cross-cultural tools essential for becoming fluent in another language and integrating well in a foreign culture. 

You will be equipped to work with people of different cultures, nationalities, worldviews and mindsets. 

You will have the opportunity to build firm and caring connections with the future church planters whom you will serve.

Veteran missionaries will be your mentors.

 Ethnos360 Aviation advanced training in McNeal, AZ

9 months

You will gain advanced flying skills in STOL aircraft at maximum gross weights on short runways in mountain environments. Training is to high standards to prepare you to fly Cessna 206s, 185s, or Kodiaks on the mission field.  Advanced helicopter training prepares you to fly Bell LongRangers, Robinson R44s and R66s. Advanced sling load and gross weight training prepares you to serve missionaries in any terrain and at high elevation.

Specialized maintenance training prepares you to maintain the fixed wing and rotor wing aircraft you will be operating on your specific field of service.

Safety and standards training enables every member of our aviation team to be an integral part of delivering safe and reliable service to the church planting missionaries that are counting on us.    

Veteran mission aviation personnel who have successfully served in the third world will mentor you. These connections and relationships you build with home staff will be vital for long-distance interaction once you are on your field of service.  You will get to know those who will be leading, providing technical expertise, supplying aircraft parts and coaching you through the challenges on the mission field.

National Culture and Language study on the field

6 to 24 months

• So that you can function in your country of service — and become an insider in the new culture — each field has a National Culture and Language Acquisition course set up for you.
• Through purposeful and disciplined study, you will gain a competent level of culture and language skills.  This will enable you to work with national co-workers as well as to interact with national aviation personnel, organizations and government officials and to be comfortable at social events and other gatherings.

 National aviation certifications

You will need to obtain the aviation certifications required by the national aviation authority in your country of service.