Equipping the Called for Mission Aviation
What Is a Missionary Aviation Pilot?
A missionary pilot is a person who is passionate about serving God and others and uses aircraft to achieve this goal. Shockingly, it is projected that by 2030, there will be nearly one billion people worldwide who have not heard the gospel of Jesus and can only be accessed by small aircraft. The missionary pilots use these aircraft to show people the love of Jesus and share the gospel message. They accomplish this by delivering essential needs such as food, medicine, and other missionaries to teach the Word of God. Without these missionary pilots, most of these people will never hear of Jesus and His wonderful gift of salvation.
What Is The Redeemed Flying Corps?
The Redeemed Flying Corps is a 501c3 non-profit created to help equip pilots for the mission field. One way we do this is to help them overcome the biggest hurdle in mission aviation training, which is the cost. To serve as a missionary pilot they are required to have an airframe and powerplant certification (A&P), a commercial pilot certificate (CPL) with an Instrument rating, 500 hours of flight time, and be debt-free. The average cost for all of this training in the United States is between $80,000 to $100,000. Achieving these requirements is next to impossible for a 17 to 25-year-old called to serve on the mission field without the help and generosity of others. We also spend intentional time with our pilots, discipling them to make sure their walk with Christ is strong, so they will be well-equipped for difficult times on the mission field and in their lives.
How Do We Accomplish It?
Presently, our organization is comprised of two aircraft and a flight simulator. A team of skilled volunteers oversees all aspects of the equipping process, with certified flight instructors (CFI) providing flight instruction, airframe and powerplant mechanics (A&P) handling aircraft maintenance, and other volunteers managing the day-to-day operations. This dedicated group of volunteers enables us to reduce training costs by 50%. The remaining 50% is funded through the generosity of those who wish to contribute financially. These funds are utilized to cover the expenses of hangar rental, fuel, insurance, and maintenance parts.
Why Do We Do It?
In Matthew 22:39 Jesus told us that God’s second greatest command is to love your neighbor as yourself. We aspire to demonstrate this love to all people, even those who may be difficult to reach. Several organizations possess aircraft to access these individuals, yet lack pilots to operate them. Currently, there is a shortage of commercial pilots in an industry that will pay high salaries to fill that shortage. Imagine the shortage of pilots in a field that does not pay high salaries nor have the best accommodations. Missionary pilots are motivated by their love for people and their desire to share Christ’s love with those who have yet to experience it. We hope to support these pilots in their mission to reach the lost through aviation.
The Redeemed Flying Corps is a federally certified 501(c)(3) and licensed as a non-profit association in the state of Oklahoma.