Founded in the U.S. in 1945 by a group of Allied pilots after World War II, and based in Nampa, ID, MAF is a Christian missionary organization that provides air transportation and communications services in support of missionary and humanitarian efforts in hard-to-reach places around the world. It has over 20 operations centers internationally, and provides transport for missionaries, emergency medical and relief flights, and transport for government agencies and NGOs. It is also an NBAA Member.
When the earthquake struck, even though its personnel were affected, MAF went into action, playing a vital role in facilitating dozens of relief flights into the country, and providing logistics support as well as space at MAF’s hangar at the overburdened airport at Port-au-Prince. Its hangar also has become a cargo warehouse for Operation Blessing, Baptist Haiti Mission, and Samaritan’s Purse, among others.
On January 16 alone, MAF coordinated the air transport of 69 passengers and 20,000 pounds of relief supplies, beginning with the arrival of a flight carrying 23 relief workers from several aid groups, including World Vision, the Mennonite Central Committee, and Christian Reformed World Relief Committee. Supplies included food, tarps and blankets, hygiene kits, water treatment systems, and medical equipment and supplies.
These flights then returned to the U.S. with 43 evacuated children and missionaries who had arrived before the earthquake hit. In addition, MAF conducts flights within Haiti using its three aircraft, including evacuating a U.S. work team that had been stranded in the town of Hinche, 60 miles north of Port-au-Prince. MAF pilots Mark Williams and Will White flew the Richmond, VA-based group to Cap Haïtian and helped them find a place to stay before being evacuated home to the United States.
“MAF has been ministering in Haiti since 1986,” said John Boyd, MAF’s president. “We know the country, the culture and the language. This experience and knowledge will be invaluable to groups coming to Haiti to help. What’s more, MAF will continue to minister here in the months and years following this disaster,” he said.
The organization also provides Internet, IT and radio communications services in support of such operations in remote areas, and has set up an airport communications center at Port-au-Prince connected to a GATR VSAT satellite system, supplying sorely needed high-bandwidth communications to workers from at least 16 international aid groups now working in Haiti.
GATR Technologies of Huntsville, AL, donated the use of the GATR system for the communications center.
MAF has developed a mobile VSAT terminal that can be checked onto most commercial airlines as baggage. This terminal can provide emergency communications anywhere in the world and can be quickly deployed.
“The earthquake destroyed the country’s infrastructure, and communication problems have so hampered relief efforts,” Boyd said. “The GATR satellite and communications center is greatly facilitating the distribution of aid to the injured, homeless and suffering in Haiti,” he said.
For more information about MAF’s efforts in Haiti, or to donate, visit www.maf.org/news/earthquake-haiti-2010.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.