The Need

The continued increase in events which requires the use of mission aviation relief efforts, has outpaced our current resources.  Combined with maintaining the use of the airplane for supporting current mission and humanitarian relief needs, an investment into potential pilots and mechanics is more vital now than in any other time we have faced.

It is estimated that by the year 2030 that 1 billion people will have no other access to basic necessities and that among the poorest people, mobility is not expected to increase substantially during that time[1]

Mission Aviation Fellowship pilot Dave McCleery gets a warm welcome.

Proclaim vision

Proclaim is excited about the vigorous impact aviation has with mission organizations. And now, we are even more excited about an opportunity to support mission aviation in a new and vital way. The resulting ministry focuses on missionary pilot candidates just graduating from a flight program. Our objective is to come alongside these aviators and cut through the time restraints and hindrances in their quest for full time service. This is achieved by providing the opportunities and supports necessary to take these aviators from graduation to acceptance with a mission organization, within a one or two year period.

            The objectives of our ministry are:   

• To provide these missionary pilot/mechanics with aviation internship programs where they can gain the necessary flight hours, maintenance proficiency, and experience required by mission organizations.
• To help them reduce debts incurred during their education and training, allowing them to continue into full time service

 Flight Experience Building

One key element Proclaim offers to candidates that successfully enter into our program is flight experience building.  This is crucial to complimenting the training that the candidate has received prior to the point of entering Proclaim.  Most Mission agencies require a minimum of 500 hours of flight experience before application can initiate, but flight candidates that recently graduate from schools generally have 250 hours, or half the required experience.  Proclaim arranges internships that allow the candidates to gain a minimum of 250 flight hours in a year.  Candidates gain additional hours serving as flight instructors, receiving advanced training, pilot service, and “right seat” time in larger complex aircraft. 

Maintenance Experience Building

The next key element that Proclaim Aviation Ministries provides is experience building in maintenance. Both flight candidates (that will be serving as pilot/mechanics) and “maintenance specialist” that enter into Proclaim gain “real world” shop proficiency during their time in the program.  Internships are arranged that allow candidate’s maintenance proficiency to be brought to a level required to meet the technical evaluations of the Mission organization they will be serving with. 

Educational Debt Reduction

Training for service as a missionary pilot or mechanic is a huge investment.  Many graduates have to obtain large school loans to complete their schooling.  Mission agencies have varying policies on the amount of debt they will allow a candidate to have before “member” status is achieved.  Proclaim is committed to helping reduce the amount of educational debts of their candidates to an amount that allows that person to gain acceptance into their mission.  The amount of educational debt that Proclaim will assume is based on averaging several factors: the mission board requirements, the amount that Proclaim can practically sustain, and the potential scholarship funds available.