Prayer of Aviators

Prayer for Aviators (Pilots, Crew & All Who Fly)

Heavenly Father,

you who made the earth and sky,

watch over all who take to the air in service and travel.

Bless the aviators — pilots, navigators, flight crews, and all who work in the skies.

Grant them wisdom, skill, and alert minds

as they prepare for departure and every flight ahead.

Protect them from danger and every unforeseen peril,

guide them with Your Spirit,

and surround them with Your angels as they soar through the heavens.

Give calm judgment in every situation,

peace of heart in challenging moments,

and safe landings at journey’s end.

May they always use their gifts responsibly,

serve others with compassion,

and give thanks to You for the beauty and wonder of flight.

Amen.

(Inspired by Catholic prayers for safe flight and protection for aviators.)

An "Aviator's Prayer" is a supplication or invocation, often religious in nature, offered for the safety and guidance of pilots and air travelers. These prayers typically seek divine protection during flights, safe takeoffs and landings, and overall well-being for those in the air. They are a tradition reflecting the inherent risks and the desire for spiritual comfort associated with aviation.

Various forms of aviator's prayers exist across different faiths and traditions. One common theme is the appeal to a higher power to "guard and guide the men who fly through the great spaces of the sky" These prayers often acknowledge the vastness and potential perils of the air, asking for protection "in darkening storms or sunlight fair" Some prayers specifically mention safe passage from takeoff to landing and express a hope for spiritual redemption. For instance, an adaptation from the Lutheran Book of Prayer (1951) asks, "Pilot my ship safely through the sky. Be with me at takeoff and landing, and let me not lose my way".

The Catholic tradition includes prayers to Our Lady of Loreto, who is recognized as the patroness of aviation and air travelers. A prayer to Our Lady of Loreto asks for her intercession for the success of flights, blessings for pilots, flight attendants, technicians, and passengers, and safe arrival at both earthly and heavenly destinations. This particular prayer references the belief that the house of Nazareth was carried by angels to Loreto, drawing a parallel to safe air travel. The sentiment behind these prayers is deeply rooted in the human desire for safety and divine intervention in potentially hazardous endeavors. Discussions among aviators sometimes highlight the importance of such prayers, especially in light of aviation incidents, underscoring the emotional and spiritual support they can provide to the aviation community.

OTHER PRAYER: "God, I thank you for giving me the power to travel higher than the clouds and faster than the wind across the sky. Give me a fit body, a clear eye, a steady nerve, and a mind able to make instant decisions. Protect me in my journey, and always bring me safely to my flight's end; and help me, as I journey far above the clouds in the vast spaces of the sky, to feel your presence nearby. Through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen."