By simulating real flight planning scenarios, the Mission Flight board game is building awareness, unity and appreciation for every role in MAF’s life-saving mission – a ‘game’ where the ultimate winners are isolated people.
Story by Mandy Glass
It is no simple task to operate a fleet of 10 aeroplanes into more than 200 airstrips across Papua New Guinea’s rugged and weather-fickle terrain. Behind every MAF flight is a team working tirelessly to coordinate aircraft, passengers, cargo, weather and crew – in a constantly changing environment.
To help staff better understand these complexities, and enhance route and load planning skills, a board game training tool named ‘Mission Flight’ was developed by MAF’s Operations Support team.
Every task, no matter how small it may seem, contributes to bringing help, hope and healing to the isolated places in PNG.
The game has proved to be a powerful simulation of the daily challenges MAF faces in PNG.
“It’s a brilliant and practical tool,” said Nancy Ikate, MAF’s Bookings & Operations Centre Manager. “From aircraft types and crew qualifications to varying weather, it reflects the real-life decisions we make every day.”
Dalinda Maxie, Flight Planner & Booking Officer, agreed.
“It reminded me of the real impact of our work,” she said. “It brought into focus how every task, no matter how small it may seem, contributes to bringing help, hope and healing to the isolated places in PNG – a powerful reminder of the MAF motto.”
For Mt Hagen Base Manager Issac Alex, the game’s depth came as a surprise.
“Even though it looked simple at first, when we began strategising which routes to take, how to load the planes, and how to factor in weather conditions, it quickly became clear just how much thought goes into planning flights,” he said.
“You begin to appreciate the level of coordination involved, not just for the day, but for the entire week or even month.”
All staff were struck by the way the game emphasised the importance of teamwork.
“While my role is often behind a desk, the game helped me realise just how challenging and dynamic our responsibilities truly are. It highlighted not only the complexity of what we do but also the importance of teamwork in achieving our goals,” said Dalinda.
“It has definitely sharpened my operational awareness,” added Nancy.
“The game clearly showed me that no one role can achieve the mission alone. It takes communication, coordination and support between all team members.
“Every contribution, no matter the size, plays a vital part in our shared mission.”
Issac saw the game’s value for operations on the ground.
“As ground crew, we must work closely with programmers and know our aircraft limits to avoid overloading.”
Looking ahead, they see strong potential for the game for new staff joining the organisation.
“New staff can understand what goes on with bookings, flights and the challenges involved, and get a better idea of how operations are carried out,” Issac said.
“It gives such a clear and hands-on understanding of how our different roles connect,” said Nancy. “Other departments could also benefit from seeing the broader picture of what goes into planning each flight.”
Initially met with some scepticism, the game turned out to be a valuable simulation and a shared experience that built insight, appreciation and unity. More than just a training tool, the Mission Flight board game equips MAF teams to face the realities of aviation in PNG—together.
