MIKE ALPHA OSCAR’S SUCCESSOR: It’s time. ONE AMPHIB FOR A RIVER OF NEEDS The South Coast region of Papua is saturated with impenetrable swamplands. Here, an intricate and pervasive web of interlinked rivers effectively isolates untold numbers of villagers from the rest of the world. In all of this region, there is only one floatplane: The MAF amphibious Cessna Caravan PK-MAO, affectionately known as Mike Alpha Oscar. This aircraft brings the love of Jesus to isolated people who … • Comprise • Face
an average life expectancy of 40 to 50 years.
• Belong • Are
the poorest sector of Indonesian society.
to a society crippled by social prejudice, corruption, and alcoholism.
heavily influenced by centuries of traditional animism and a rapidly-growing influx of Islam.
Many of these villagers have no access to a road or an airstrip. Without an MAF amphibious airplane, they would not be served at all. But Mike Alpha Oscar no longer can keep pace with the accelerating ministry needs of Papua. At almost 28 years old and 20,000 flight hours, it is one of the oldest and most-utilized airplanes in the MAF fleet. Maintaining this well-worn airplane has become costly and timeconsuming.
THE HIGH COST OF MAINTAINING AN OLD AIRPLANE At 20,000 hours, Cessna requires an extensive NDT (Nondestructive Testing) inspection: • First
the wings, struts, engine mounts, tail surfaces, and floats are removed.
• Then • The
a testing specialist is flown in from the United States.
plane is grounded for 1-2 months.
After this, extensive NDTs are required every 5,000 hours. As planes age, maintenance and repairs increase because parts wear down, corrosion worsens, and cracks start to appear. Planes often stay grounded while waiting for hard-to-get replacement parts.
“The MAF amphib is the ONLY plane that can land in our village. Very often it’s not flying because of maintenance. It’s good to hear that a new amphib may be coming soon!” —Peter Jan de Vries, Missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators
THE SUCCESSOR
It’s time for the next amphibious airplane to rise up and push the work forward. Picking up where Mike Alpha Oscar leaves off, the successor amphib will … • Transport
Bible translator Peter Jan de Vries to and from his home in a remote village so that he will not have to trek through 9.3 miles of jungle terrain to the nearest airstrip.
• Carry
patients in need of urgent medical care from isolated locations to the hospitals in Senggo or Merauke to receive appropriate treatment.
• Help
sustain the ministry of a young missionary couple from South Africa who has established a mission post where there is no airstrip.
• Support
the Dutch Reformed Church as it trains and develops local church leaders in remote areas to strengthen new believers in the foundations of their faith.
• Bring
pastors, missionaries, and Christian resources to the fledgling believers in the village of Esrotnamba so that they will hand down their newfound faith to second, third, and fourth generations.
In short, the successor amphib will ensure that the love of Jesus flourishes in the lives of the isolated people of Papua’s South Coast region for many years to come.
Mike Alpha Oscar
The Successor
Model
Cessna 208 amphib Caravan on Wipaire 8000 floats
Cessna 208 amphib Caravan on Wipaire 8750 floats
Age
27 years
New
Flight hours
19,500+
0
Passengers
7
8
Payload carrying round trip fuel: —60 min. flight 1,350 lbs
1,665 lbs (23% increase in payload)
—95 min. flight
1,000 lbs
1,315 lbs (31% increase in payload)
Engine power
675 horsepower
675 horsepower
Avionics
Legacy instrumentation
Garmin G1000 glass panel display
THE COST: $2,900,000 for a Cessna 208 amphibious Caravan THE RETURN: Generations of isolated people physically and spiritually transformed by the love of Jesus. Is God leading YOU to help fund a new amphibious Caravan to bring His love to the people of Papua? Mission Aviation Fellowship • PO Box 47 • Nampa, ID 83653 • 1-800-FLYS-MAF (359-7623)