News
Follow MAF's life-transforming adventures and latest developments from around the world…
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MAF responds to 7.6 magnitude earthquake in eastern PNG
In the wake of an earthquake, which struck Markham Valley in eastern Papua New Guinea on Sunday 11 September, MAF has been medevacking injured people and undertaking aerial surveys in partnership with the UN, WHO and PNG government to assess the damage. We bring you the latest on the relief efforts…
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MAF pioneer Jack Hemmings does it again at 101!
MAF co-founder and RAF veteran Jack Hemmings AFC* took to the skies once again today in a surprise flight to celebrate his 101st birthday. The retired airman took off from Spilstead Farm Airfield near Hastings in East Sussex watched by delighted friends, family, former MAF colleagues and the BBC…
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MAF operations in Bangladesh close
Following 25 years of service, MAF operations in Bangladesh have ended. Significant infrastructure development including the opening of Padma Bridge, which connects the southwest to the north and east, has revolutionised transport links leading to less reliance on MAF. As MAF winds up its activities, we look back on what the charity has achieved...
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MAF UK’s newest engineer follows in grandad’s footsteps
Former EasyJet engineer Mark Draper attains his aircraft maintenance license for MAF ahead of his move to Uganda in January. Following a pandemic induced furlough and a nine-month stint at business jet maintenance firm ‘Signature TECHNICAir’ in Luton, Mark finally receives his certification from the Civil Aviation Authority…
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MAF plane is repainted and registered as ‘PK-MJL’ in memory of the late Joyce Lin
MAF Papua’s freshly painted Kodiak 100 plane has been dedicated to the late Joyce Lin today - the much-loved MAF pilot and flight Instructor who tragically lost her life shortly after taking off from Sentani Airport in Papua, Indonesia on 12 May 2020. The plane is now registered as PK-MJL in her memory…
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Former child soldier Grace meets sponsor for the first time thanks to MAF
On 7 July, following many years of sponsorship, Rebecca Cummings from Four Corners Ministries boards a MAF flight and meets former Ugandan child soldier Grace for the first time. They meet at a Christian women’s empowerment conference in Abaana’s Hope near Gulu, northern Uganda. MAF’s Jill Vine was there…
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Educating Arnhem Land: ‘Without MAF, it’s difficult for kids to get to school’
Half of MAF’s flights in Arnhem Land – in Australia’s Northern Territory wilderness – support education. In recent years, MAF has expanded its routes outside of Arnhem Land, enabling hundreds more indigenous students to access a ‘culturally appropriate’ education. This would not be possible without MAF pilots Tim Vallance-Webb and Matt Henderson…
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MAF upgrades electrics for isolated South Sudan hospital as malaria cases soar
St Theresa’s Hospital in Nzara, Western Equatoria State, treats around 20,000 patients per year. As one of the few functioning hospitals in the region, St Theresa’s is a lifesaver, treating a range of conditions including seasonal malaria. On 28 June, MAF engineer Phil Buhler upgraded the electrics, to better serve remote communities. MAF’s Jenny Davies reports…
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MAF delivers food aid to Suriname in response to ‘unprecedented floods’
Rainy season in South America’s Suriname is nothing new, but this year’s water levels have reached a new high causing more devastation than ever before. In response, MAF is partnering with the national disaster response agency ‘NCCR’ delivering food to far-flung people affected by the floods. MAF’s Helmer Maas updates Claire Gilderson on the relief effort so far…
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Hope finally arrives at Wetap as latest bush airstrip opens in PNG
Work first began in Wetap in 2016. Six years later, following an airstrip extension, two years of travel restrictions, several aerial surveys, ground inspections and a test flight, Wetap Airstrip is finally open for business. MAF’s Mandy Glass reveals just what it takes to reach this momentous moment and why this new airstrip will transform lives in future…
