Our Beginning

The College started as a summer-camp dream along the sparkling sands of Lake Rosa. For six years, camp director and commercial airline pilot Tim Huggins trained groups of high schoolers with a passion for missionary aviation work. His camps gave young, eager participants real-time flight experience, technical instruction and spiritual guidance in a no-frills environment — like what they would encounter on the mission field. As teen after teen felt the calling of God to the mission field to take on a pilot’s role, Huggins realized they were faced with very real, practical dilemmas. Most flight programs are too expensive for interested students to afford, forcing them into either insurmountable debt or a different career path.

But the stakes are too high to deny training to those who feel the calling. Missionary pilots are important because they are often essential in transporting people and supplies and bringing hope in impoverished countries. When people see the aircraft arriving, they know help is on the way.

“Huggins saw the need for an affordable higher-education institution to train service-ready, missionary-minded pilots. And so the College of Missionary Aviation was born.”

Investors, donors and an engaged board of directors got the college off the ground with academic direction, financial backing, runway and hangar space, donated airplanes and student-ready housing.

Rotations of the program begin in January and July. After a two and a half year period of ten quarters, a student will graduate with a degree in missions with a concentration in mission aviation.

Exceptional Professors

A team of professional aviation instructors offer a range of flight training and faith-focused motivational skills. Former State Representative Charles Van Zant Sr. brings valuable perspective to the classroom. Prior to being to the Florida House of Representatives Dr. Van Zant was a pastor, missionary, and architect. Dr. Bert Ayers is former missionary to Albania from 1993-1997, and Gordon Swenson served as a missionary for 27 years in Papua New Guinea. The college is blessed to have Dr. Ayers and Rev. Swenson teaching our future missionary aviators.

Why We Are Different

• Affordable
• Accessible
• Faith-focused
• Accelerated track

Rotations of the program begin in January and July.  (Dual enrolled home school students may join as each quarter begins.)

After a 30-month period of 10 quarters, graduates receive degree in missions with a concentration in mission aviation. 

FAA Part 61 Apprentice Mechanic (leading to Airframe & Powerplant rating) Join us in prayer as we are currently building up our volunteer maintenance instructor staff to conduct a full-time Apprentice Mechanic program.