Who was it on here who said her husband was studying to be a missionary pilot? This is what Phillip is SERIOUSLY considering, and he would love to find out more about it. (IE: "Mom, when will you try and get that guy's email for me? I really want to talk with him!") THANKS!
I can't speak for specifically studying to be a missionary pilot, but I can suggest that he begin to get his private pilot's license as soon as you are comfortable with him doing it. It is much less expensive to obtain it yourself than to wait until he is taking formal courses through another program. Either way it isn't cheap, but any advantage that can be taken will be worth it in the end. My brother started taking lessons as soon as he turned 16 and had a regular job to pay for lessons....he got his license just before he was 17. He has his bachelor's in aviation flight and flies passenger jets. He has also looked into missionary work. If you can't find the person on here that has first hand experience with it, let me know and I can see what I can find out.
Agreed on that. A lot of airports will offer a "package" for getting your private pilot's license. There are so many hours of "ground school" and so many hours of "flight school" that you have to do. My mom & dad & stepfather all all pilots (well, my Mom passed away but NOT from flying! LOL ). Actually my Mom & stepfather have all the way to the ATP (test pilot), my Mom was one of a very elite group of women who actually receive that - aTP is the hardest rating to get! Anyway...if you have a local airport, I agree with getting the lessons started NOW. Also, MAF has a program through a university - I want to say it's in Columbia SC, can't remember the name of it now....I had friends YEARS ago who were studying to be missionaries there - and he was going through the aviation program with them so he could be an MAF pilot. If I can find someone who's still in contact with them, I will get you more information!
Hi Jackie - it was me! I definately agree with getting his private pilot first. I am actually checking right now on how to get a grant/scholarship for my kids too so they can start flying. From what we were told their are suppose to be tons of grants available right now to get your pilots license. The sooner he starts the better. Most of the pilot postions in the missionary field require alot of logged hours (i.e. 1,000 hours or more). We have several missionary pilots around us up here in Alaska. Their is also a missionary aviation center called MMS that is located in Coshocton, Oh. A friend just finished his apprenticeship with them. Another thing for Philip to consider is getting his A&P degree (airplane mechanic). Most missionary places require it so that way if a plane breaks down out in the jungle they are able to fix it to keep on going. Many of the schools are 2-4 years but their is one in Michigan that is a one year school. Their is a friend of ours named Paul Jones, check out his website - www.hishangar.blogspot.com He hasn't updated it in a few months, but he is in Guatemala right now through Missionary Air Group. Philip can read all about his biography. He didn't feel the Lord leading him until he was a commercial pilot. It is expensive to get your license so definately check into grants/scholarships. As far as scholarships go AOPA seems to be a really good resource, you can check out their website. They really helped me though our airplane purchase. I was also told experimental aircraft association gives scholarships out every year also. My dh did his ground school through sportys. They have a dvd course you purchase and do at home. Most instructors recommend it but I would talk to an instructor first before purchasing. My kids will do it just because we have it. You can pm me if you have more questions. Congrats to Philip for knowing his direction for his future.
Yes, I think there is certainly plenty of work around for pilots taking people and supplies to missionaries and mission stations in the remoter parts of the world. One of the groups is Missionary Aviation Fellowship, or under whatever name they operate.
We know some older hs'd kids who went throught the Junior Civil Air Patrol, and he wants to join that next year. He has also talked about being an Air Force pilot first. And Lee, he's very interested in Alaska, which I find interesting. I asked him just yesterday why Alaska, and not the Amazon. "Because I don't like the hot!" But many years ago (pre-kids) I had written about finding a teaching job in Alaska. I did spend a summer with a mission church in Cordova, and LOVED it! Would your husband be willing to answer his emails? If so, send me a PM with his email address. And Coshocton is close enough for us to visit sometime. It would be a nice field trip! THANKS!!! So he might end up with a pilot's license before a driver's license, lol!
The heat is an issue, though. Harry S. Truman said: 'If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen'. A paraphrase of this would also be: 'If you can't stand the heat, don't be a missionary pilot' (at least, south of the Rio Grande).
Here is a blog by a mission pilot. http://www.wingsovernicaragua.org/ I follow him on facebook. The pilot's wife and I went to highschool together.
Hope it works out for him, anyway, heat or no heat. Doing something that the person enjoys doing is a lot of it.
