The future of aviation begins today. CAEF Is Helping dreams take flight.
The future of aviation begins today. CAEF Is Helping dreams take flight.
THE Vision
THE Vision
The vision of CAEF is to advance general aviation in Western New York by promoting career opportunities for the next generation of aviation professionals through scholarships to defer the cost of training.
CAEF is a registered 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit corporation.
THE HISTORY
It was back in 1977 when a small group of men and women gathered together to purchase the Akron airport, which had been operating privately since 1940. Moving forward on much faith and little money, their dream was to transform the airport into something that would not only glorify God, but would also be a place where people could experience the joy of flight at an affordable cost.THE HISTORY
More than forty years have transpired since those founding days and the Akron Airport grew steadily into one of the finest general aviation facilities in Western New York. With state and federal support, plus a whole lot of very hard work from its members and friends, the Akron airport eventually fulfilled many of its original goals.
In 2006, members of the Christian Airmen, Inc. Board of Directors put together a plan to create a separate not-for-profit, tax-exempt foundation to achieve that one goal that was not possible through the Akron Airport’s for-profit status. This foundation, called the Christian Airmen Educational Foundation, Inc. (CAEF) is now in place. CAEF is one of only a handful of foundations in the world established exclusively to serve aviation.
The Foundation wants to encourage young people to enter the field of aviation. We have supported high school based aviation programs and humanitarian aviation needs by providing direct financial support to such groups as JAARS, Mission Aviation Fellowship, Missionary Air Group, Civil Air Patrol and our own Mercy Flight of Western New York. The Foundation supports local efforts to improve flight safety and programs to make aviation more affordable for all who want to fly. Providing scholarships, encouraging new pilots, supporting missionary aviation, and enhancing flight safety are the major reasons for CAEF’s existence.