Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at 12:12am
Fuel shortage grounds mission flights
A shortage of aviation fuel — called avgas — grounded pilots of Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), a faith-based, non-profit ministry that serves missions and isolated people around the world via aviation. The shortage halted service to some 150 air strips, said MAF president John Boyd.
In response MAF launched an aggressive 10-year plan to acquire 20 new Kodiak 100 aircraft, manufactured by Quest Aircraft, that use jet fuel, which is more readily available and cheaper. It is also larger, flies faster and can still use small airstrips and comes at a discount to the ministry.
MAF will take delivery of its first Kodiak in October and is raising some $29 million for the project, of which nearly $10 million has been raised. Avgas can cost up to $12 a gallon, wile jet fuel is $3.50 a gallon, said Boyd. "As the fleet changes, it will help us increase our reach, expand the ministry and enable us to meet needs we can't meet currently," he said. "It's a win-win situation."
The new Kodiaks will allow MAF to reach even more of the isolated peoples in remote places around the world with the Gospel, Boyd said. With a fleet of 52 aircraft, MAF serves more than 800 Christian and non-profit agencies in remote areas, as well as thousands of isolated people in Africa, Asia, Eurasia and Latin America.
In response MAF launched an aggressive 10-year plan to acquire 20 new Kodiak 100 aircraft, manufactured by Quest Aircraft, that use jet fuel, which is more readily available and cheaper. It is also larger, flies faster and can still use small airstrips and comes at a discount to the ministry.
MAF will take delivery of its first Kodiak in October and is raising some $29 million for the project, of which nearly $10 million has been raised. Avgas can cost up to $12 a gallon, wile jet fuel is $3.50 a gallon, said Boyd. "As the fleet changes, it will help us increase our reach, expand the ministry and enable us to meet needs we can't meet currently," he said. "It's a win-win situation."
The new Kodiaks will allow MAF to reach even more of the isolated peoples in remote places around the world with the Gospel, Boyd said. With a fleet of 52 aircraft, MAF serves more than 800 Christian and non-profit agencies in remote areas, as well as thousands of isolated people in Africa, Asia, Eurasia and Latin America.