Speed the spread of the gospel. Your aviation skills and training can help missionaries plant churches faster by supporting their needs for safe transportation to remote areas. New Tribes Mission Aviation (NTMA) is much more than just transporting people and supplies — missionary pilots also take an active part in the spiritual encouragement of missionary co-workers and the indigenous church. View available positions or learn more about NTMA — read our purpose, vision and values and answers to frequently asked questions.

Roles and requirements for service

All candidates for service with New Tribes Mission Aviation must complete missionary training with New Tribes Mission and undergo a technical skills evaluation with NTM Aviation. Missionary pilot candidates should have begun flight training before age 30.

Missionary pilots

Missionary pilots guide aircraft to a safe arrival at a bush location. Missionary pilots also minister as encouragers to the church-planting teams working in remote areas. Without access to a neighborhood grocery or pharmacy, these teams require equipment, medicine, medical evacuation and mail to be supplied by air.

• Missionary Pilot (Airplane) requirements:
  • Commercial Pilot certificate
  • Instrument Rating, airplane
  • 300 hours PIC
  • Aircraft Mechanic certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings
  • One year general aviation mechanic experience

• Missionary Pilot (Helicopter) requirements:
  • Commercial Helicopter Pilot certificate
  • 500 hours PIC helicopter flight experience
  • Meet all fixed-wing requirements

Maintenance technicians keep aircraft in excellent flying condition by performing all procedures necessary to comply with FAA standards and the standards of the host country where they work. Keeping in mind the precious cargo that the planes carry, these technicians dedicate themselves to the highest standards of aircraft maintenance.

• Maintenance Technician (Maintenance Engineer) requirements:
  • Aircraft Mechanic certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings
  • Two years aircraft maintenance experience (general aviation experience with an IA certificate preferred)

Avionics technicians service aircraft radio systems and equipment, high-frequency communication radios for the church-planting teams living in remote areas, other electronic equipment and, at times, computers. Often, there are no telephone services in the jungle, which makes the radio a vital communications tool.

• Avionics Technician requirements:
  • Associates Degree in Electronics
  • General Class FCC license
  • One year electronics experience after obtaining degree