Papua New Guinea

MAF in Papua New Guinea

The coming years will be critical for hundreds of thousands of people in Papua New Guinea. With its unique geography, diverse people groups, deteriorating economy and road system, political instability and widespread insecurity, the need for MAF’s help there is greater than ever. All over the country there are large communities without road access - people are totally dependent on MAF, not just for bringing medical workers, school teachers and the materials to build their schools, but to carry their only means of income (coffee in most parts) and to bring in goods for their community trade stores.

MAF’s work in PNG started in 1951. With the growth of a strong PNG Church, our role has developed from mostly supporting expatriate missionaries to meeting the air service needs of local Church pastors, Bible Colleges, teachers, students and medical staff.

A vital aspect of our role is the provision of air transport for people in remote or isolated communities with no other means of assistance. Day to day, and in times of emergency or family crisis, MAF is their lifeline. Communities rely on our aircraft and the tiny bush airstrips as their primary means of transport. Flying includes transport for medical evacuations to hospitals in the main centres, health, education, essential supplies, community development projects, government, businesses, aid agencies, primary produce, mail and building supplies. Carrying local vegetables and coffee to market enables people in remote places to generate income, facilitate community development, provide school fees, and support local pastors. Essential supplies are regularly flown into these communities.

The MAF PNG headquarters, engineering and flight training facilities are centrally located in the highlands town of Mount Hagen. Our aircraft operate from Goroka in the east, Rumginae and Telefomin in the west and Wewak in the north.

Organisations that MAF flies in PNG:

• Government health and education departments
• Anglican Church
• Baptist Union PNG
• Christian Brethren Church
• Christian Leaders Training College
• Evangelical Brethren Church
• Evangelical Church of PNG / Pioneers
• Evangelical Lutheran Church / Lutheran Development Services
• New Tribes Mission
• Pioneer Bible Translators
• ‘Word of the World’ plus other independent Baptist organisations

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First day of flying
(30 Mar 2012)

Pilot Nick Swalm reports on the first day of flying in "P2-MKK" - our new GA8 Airvan aircraft in Papua New Guinea.
Track our new plane
(06 Mar 2012)

MAF has a new addition to its fleet, The Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft, currently registered N543TC, was purchased in the USA and is flying south to our maintenance base in Australia, before joining our operation in Papua New Guinea.
Yatoam dysentery outbreak
(10 Feb 2012)

MAF pilot Richie Axon reports on a flight to bring help to remote people suffering from a severe outbreak of dysentery.
Now help is just a radio call away
(23 Nov 2011)

The opening of the new airstrip at Pyrulama, Papua New Guinea has already saved 4 lives. But it's also a reminder of how many more could be saved here and in other such villages with no access to such a lifeline.
One plane. One day. Three lives.
(04 May 2011)

Three lives were saved in one day by an MAF plane in Papua New Guinea. Our quick response saved a woman from a deadly snakebite and another with labour complications.
Reporting from the field in PNG and beyond
(05 Aug 2010)

Gary Colvin blogs from abroad!
MAF encouraging the Church in Bongomachi
(19 Jul 2010)

Can you imagine travelling 14 hours in a canoe made from a hollowed-out tree trunk to reach a destination only a 15 minutes flight away?
Medical evacuation from Hewa, Papua New Guinea
(14 May 2010)

Michael Duncalfe reports on a recent MAF medical evacuation from Hewa in Papua New Guinea
One year old, and looking good
(16 Apr 2010)

Peggy and baby Nicki were beneficiaries of a Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) medical evacuation flight in Papua New Guinea last year. One year on, pilot Michael Duncalfe met them again.