For isolated communities without airstrips, MAF’s amphibious aircraft is a game-changer, providing transport for passengers, goods and emergency patients across Lake Murray and beyond.
Story by Aquila Matit
The Lake Murray communities in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea (PNG) have wasted no time in putting the floatplane, registered ‘P2-WET’, to good use.
“This was our first trip back to Western Province after 2024 where we were able to work with the communities and serve them, especially those communities that do not have access to airstrips such as Kushikino, Ushakov, Miwa, Magipopo and Maka,” said Captain Chad Tilley.
“I see a lot of passenger movement by the community members to and from the lake region to Kiunga. Typically, they say it takes them two days.”
Chad, who has been flying the floatplane in PNG since it started operating in October last year, says he is excited by how the locals are responding to the opportunity.
“Locals bring a lot of business goods like fish. We see a lot of barramundi - big, barramundi fish. While in some regions of PNG we fly coffee, here we fly a lot of fish.”
Max Gom, a fisherman and a local resident of Ushakov in Lake Murray said his sales of barramundi have enabled him to earn a substantial income.
“I send my barramundi catch to Kiunga through the floatplane, where it is sold at a good price. This money helps me, and my family sustain our living at this time,” he said.
The recent flights were also of great value to students and government workers who need efficient transport at this time of the year.
“We got some children to school in Kiunga on one flight. We were able to provide a charter flight with board members of the Western Provincial Health Authority to Daru to attend their first board meeting. We also did a medevac at one of the water landing sites and within 24 minutes the patient and guardian were on their way to a hospital in Kiunga. It shows the flexibility of the amphibious aircraft,” Chad said.
The floatplane continues to expand its reach in the region, Chad explained, so that people from distant lake communities can also use the aircraft.
“We have just opened a water landing site in a village called Kapikam. It takes them five days by boat to get to Kiunga. The same flight would take 22 minutes. Later in the quarter, maybe in March, April and May, we'll open another 4 - 5 water landing sites.”
The amphibious aircraft will continue to operate in the region on its current schedule, said Dom Sant, Interim Country Director for MAF in PNG.
“We’re so excited to see our new floatplane reach people who need help, hope and healing. At the moment we’re only able to offer a service every second month, because we are waiting for God to provide a dedicated in-country floatplane pilot.”
The floatplane project is a joint initiative of Sustainable Development Program PNG (SDP) and MAF for Western Province.