About
the chris coffee aviation foundation
The Chris Coffee Aviation Foundation was established by MAF in partnership with the family of the late Chris Coffee, a much-loved MAF pilot who was tragically killed in a car accident on his way to work in Arnhem Land in January 2025. Chris devoted his life to serving God, mentoring others and bringing hope to some of the world’s most isolated communities. Read more about Chris here.
The Foundation honours his legacy of faith, service and passion for helping others flourish in their calling. Through the provision of scholarships and fellowships, including opportunities for mentorship and hands-on mission experience, we equip aspiring and locally trained pilots and engineers from within the regions where MAF serves, to become mission-ready and step into vital aviation and leadership roles.
Your support will not only help these men and women develop their skills, but also build long-term sustainability for MAF’s operations – ensuring that life-saving help, hope and healing can continue reaching isolated communities for generations to come.
Our Vision
Local pilots and engineers from within the regions where MAF serves are equipped and empowered to deliver help, hope and healing through aviation, ensuring that isolated communities have access to life-saving services for generations to come.
Our Mission
We identify, train and equip men and women from within the regions where MAF serves to become mission-ready pilots and engineers. Building on Chris Coffee’s legacy of mentorship and service, we provide financial sponsorship, training and mission experience that encourage and guide individuals to grow and flourish in their calling, empowering local leaders to sustain life-saving aviation for isolated communities.
Why it matters
MAF’s work in remote regions is under growing pressure due to a shortage of long-term, mission-aligned pilots and engineers. Many local men and women have the passion and potential to serve, yet financial, training and structural barriers stand in the way.
The Foundation responds to this urgent need by equipping and mentoring local aviation professionals – from within the regions where MAF serves – so they can build sustainable, in-country aviation capacity and bring help, hope and healing to their own people for generations to come.
Watch the stories of Joseph and Amber from Papua New Guinea and Mantlibi from Lesotho.
The Impact
We envision stronger, more sustainable MAF operations powered by local staff who are equipped not only with technical excellence but also with a heart for mission, discipleship and service. Through their work, isolated communities will encounter hope, seeing lives changed through the practical and spiritual impact of MAF’s mission. Over time, this will strengthen MAF’s impact, build local ownership of life-saving services and raise up a new generation of leaders who can carry the mission forward for decades to come.
Your partnership with the Chris Coffee Aviation Foundation will:
Continue Chris Coffee’s legacy of service, discipleship and mentoring others to flourish in their calling.
Identify emerging leaders with the passion, potential and calling to serve as pilots and engineers.
Equip these men and women with the training, mentorship and mission experience they need to flourish in their calling.
Empower recipients to serve long-term within MAF, bringing lasting change to their families, communities and the people they serve.
Partner with us today to transform lives, empower local leaders and sustain mission aviation for generations to come.
“There is a growing excitement and shared sense of calling as more Africans take up their place in MAF’s service. For years, Africans have been a part of MAF’s story, but today we celebrate the increasing number stepping forward – especially those wanting to train as pilots and engineers. Many are eager to serve with passion and commitment, though financial constraints often stand in the way.”
– Faith Susan, Country Director, Kenya.
The Chris Coffee Aviation Foundation is an internal fund of Mission Aviation Fellowship – MAF Assist.
Gifts and sponsorships over AUD$2 within Australia to fund approved public relief work of MAF,
raised through MAF Assist Limited (DGR Item 1) ABN 27 654 417 544, are tax deductible.
Find out more: www.maf.org.au