New MAF planes to reach remote Indonesia

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) has dedicated two new aircraft for service in remote areas of Indonesia.

The Kodiak planes, which cost $1.7 million each, were given to the charity by two donors who wish to remain anonymous.

The planes will be used to transport missionaries and materials to the isolated areas of Kiwi, Bomela, Langda and Koropun, where MAF has been ministering since the 1950s.

Dave Rask, MAF's director of Aviation Resources said: "These are places that have never seen a car. Places so remote that the only way to reach them is a long trek through the jungle, or by plane.

"In these areas, the missionaries, the medicines, books, Bibles ... even the nails for the buildings and the aluminum for the roofs are delivered by MAF."

Today, MAF has 48 missionary staff members and 102 Indonesian employees serving in Indonesia with 22 planes.

In 2011, MAF flew 14,735 Indonesian flights, delivering 51,918 passengers and 4,870,818 pounds of cargo.

"The needs in Indonesia are so great that MAF's capacity has never been able to meet all the demands," said Rask.

"The Kodiak is a larger, faster plane that is able to land on most of the small airstrips we use. One pilot can double his output and goods can be delivered for much less. Will these planes change lives? Absolutely!"

MAF's goal for the next two years is to reinforce its operations in Africa with the addition of seven new aircraft, some of which will replace ageing planes.