On a royal visit to Bangladesh last week, HRH Princess Anne flew with MAF to visit the cyclone affected areas of Gabura and to Chila Bazar, where she visited a project funded by Save the Children. Princess Anne is a patron of Save the Children UK.
Bangladesh has a high percentage of its land mass underwater and is prone to cyclones and seasonal flooding. MAF operates a float plane able to land on water and land, making it better equipped to reach many communities which are cut off because of flooding and to bring help quickly especially in crisis.
With a number of damaging cyclones in the past few years, there is still a lot of work to be done in helping to rebuild the affected areas and in making them less vulnerable. MAF’s work in Bangladesh supports organisations helping with rebuilding work, flying supplies, equipment and teams, as well as supporting local medical work at two floating hospitals.
MAF pilot Chad Tilley, based in the capital Dhaka shares, ‘I had an opportunity to talk with Princess Anne and she was very intrigued by MAF and the amphibian aircraft already knowing that this was the only aircraft of its type here in country. She remarked what a great tool to help a country with so much water.’