Training for Caleb: A Lifeline for Many

Hey there! My name is Caleb from Western NC and I have a passion for people, rescue, and aviation. Several years ago I became fascinated with using helicopters for missions to save lives, lift people out of poverty, and share the gospel of Christ! Helicopters are capable of landing in very remote and small areas making them perfect for medical emergencies, bringing in supplies, and providing transportation.

In June of 2024 I earned my private helicopter license just in time for the tragic Hurricane Helene. In September and October I volunteered with Operation Helo and Operation Airdrop out of Hickory, NC, to execute over 4,000 helicopter missions, 400 of which were evacuations from life-threatening situations. My part in these volunteer operations was Crew Chief and Pilot. For more details and exciting stories refer to my blog here:

Stewardship from the Sky

I now hope to be able to respond not only to local disasters and crises but disasters around the world! I want to use this passion and skill to continue to save lives for decades to come.

To do this, I have to get my Instrument rating, Commercial license, and lots of continued training and education. I plan to travel to Oregon with my wife and our two young boys this Spring to attend Jerry Trimble Helicopter school where I will earn my Instrument rating and Commercial license. I am so excited for this opportunity! However, helicopter training is VERY expensive. To get these ratings and licenses from Jerry Trimble will likely cost around $40-$50k USD. I really want to go on missions and am willing to invest financially but I definitely don't have the money for this. To make matters more complicated, "student loans" aren't really the same when it comes to aviation training so funding is very limited.

This is my first financial hurdle I am seeking help on. I thank you so much for anything you can do to help, even if that only means reading my blog and sharing this GoFundMe. Thank you and God bless!

Jerry Trimble Helicopters Website

Update 1/16/25:

ALL funding here will be applied DIRECTLY to helicopter training (helicopter rental, fuel, instructor fees, etc.) at Jerry Trimble Helicopters in McMinnville, Oregon.

In the unforeseen event of an excess of funding, ALL excess will be directed to our full time aviation missions we are sent on. Thank you!