MAF's role has developed over 60 years from one of focusing on the support of expatriate missionaries to sustaining whole communities with its air link. It is meeting the needs of local church pastors, teachers, students and medical staff but is also critical to development of communities isolated by mountains, jungle and the absence of usable roads.
MAF also transports communities' cash crops for sale in larger markets. Income earned from these sales enables purchasing of supplies to improve living standards. As an example MAF aircraft move large amounts of coffee out of the coffee growing areas to market. During a coffee season MAF airlifts around 800 tonnes of coffee from the remote highlands to coffee buyers resulting in income of flowing back to these communities to meet their needs.
MAF continues to play a vital part in the work of churches and missions as they serve in isolated communities throughout PNG. Donations from MAF supporters, enable us to carry church and mission workers at heavily subsidised rates. Each year MAF is able to subsidise fares for over 5,000 church and mission staff and transport hundreds of tonnes of "church" freight (building supplies etc) great distances in PNG.
Churches with commitments to health service programs also benefit from MAF flights. The team of MAF international and national staff are active in ministry within their local churches and communities, in addition to their service with MAF. Resources like the "Jesus" film and discipleship training programmes are used to support these activities.
MAF undertakes the training of aircraft maintenance engineers through an apprenticeship programme of classroom and on-the-job training. As a result of this scheme, a number of Papua New Guineans have qualified as Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers. MAF operates the only flying school in PNG. The MAF Flight Training Centre has trained 35 pilots to Commercial Pilot Licence standard and beyond. Graduates are flying successfully with other air service operators in PNG and overseas. In 1999 the first female flying instructor to fully train in PNG completed instruction with the MAF Flight Training Centre.
Our Services
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Passenger Flights
Promoting rural development by offering an efficient air transport option to outer districts throughout Papua New Guinea. |
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Relief Operations
Available for emergency response and supply flights when required. |
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Church and Mission
Providing air support for churches and mission organisations. |
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Medical Evacuations
MAF's work in PNG is often life-saving. In 2010, MAF PNG evacuated 495 sick or injured people from remote locations to medical centres and carried over 78 tons of medical supplies to remote clinics. |
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Reaching out to help
MAF stands ready and is committed to reaching out to people in need. Whether in Papua New Guinea or worldwide, MAF can mobilise to help in times of disaster.
Medical Assistance
MAF is the only aviation service provider operating a 7 day per week emergency medical evacuation service in PNG. Many of the medivacs undertaken are for pregnancy and childbirth complications, while others are for severe cuts, burns and snakebites. The patients, their families and communities often lack the funds to be able to afford a medivac service. MAF undertakes these flights as part of its humanitarian, Christian witness, trusting by faith for the financial provision to make this high-impact ministry possible.
