MAF welcomes newly donated aircraft

In celebration of 25 years of business, AFD Software Ltd in the Isle of Man has donated a brand new Kodiak 100 aircraft to Mission Aviation Fellowship.

The aircraft will be used to serve the people of Kalimantan, Indonesia where flying is not a luxury but a lifeline.

David Dorricott, managing director of AFD, explained: "MAF operates a fleet of small aircraft in many of the world s poorest and most remote places, providing the only access for supplies and medical and health services. However the cost of providing the Avgas fuel for these aircraft, and the difficulties even of obtaining it, have been causing enormous problems for the operators.

"When we learned that a brand new, purpose-designed bush aircraft had been developed - with higher payload and range - and the benefit of running on much cheaper and more readily available Jet A1 fuel, we were really excited."

The head of MAF UK, Ruth Whitaketer comments said the ministry was using a fleet of eight aircraft to reach remote communities with vital medical help, physical support and Christian care.

She said that the airstrips in the region of dense rainforest and impenetrable mountains were often challenging and required a special type of aircraft to cope with the harsh environment.

"The Kodiak is ideally suited to the rugged, mountainous terrain. We are extremely grateful for this gift which will help support the local communities, the work of the church and will make a real difference to the lives of the people of Kalimantan," she said.

The Kodiak is a new type of aircraft designed with mission in mind. It is capable of taking off and landing in the rough and rugged conditions where MAF operates and has the capacity to land on short airstrips which is particularly useful in Kalimantan.

Whitaketer flew to the Isle of Man especially for the presentation ceremony and thanked AFD for the "generous and life-changing" gift.

The AFD-donated Kodiak 100 is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in early 2010.