Vitaliy Nikishin  – 

Aircraft Maintenance Technician

Vitaliy was born in Ukraine and moved to the United States in 1998. He lived most of his life in Wenatchee, WA, where he was first exposed to aviation and missions. After attending a six-week college-level, cross-cultural mission course in Papua New Guinea, Vitaliy attended New Tribes Bible Institute in Waukesha, WI.

There he felt God calling him to missionary aviation. In 2017 he started training at MATA where he received an Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot’s Certificate.

Through a MATA connection, Vitaliy took an apprenticeship opportunity at an FBO (Fixed Based Operator) in Everett, WA. He received FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Certificates in December of 2021. In January of 2022 Vitaliy completed a Technical Evaluation to become a missionary pilot. He is currently serving as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician at MATA. Vitaliy is a welcome addition to the MATA team.

 A&P, CPL-ASEL: Instrument Rating