Mon, Jan 25, 2010
First Use Of Kodiak In Disaster Relief Work
MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship)
has deployed a new Kodiak airplane and four crew members to join
its fleet of three aircraft already serving the relief effort
following the massive earthquake in Haiti. Following a brief
dedication ceremony yesterday afternoon in Idaho, the Kodiak
(N103MF) took off on its 3,000-mile, 18-hour flight to Haiti.
The Kodiak can carry more cargo and passengers than the
Cessna planes currently being used by MAF in Haiti. It also
runs on jet fuel, which is more readily available avgas in
Haiti. The Kodiak is manufactured by Quest Aircraft
Co. of Sandpoint, Idaho, which was founded to provide rugged,
backcountry aircraft for remote operations for mission aviation
organizations around the world.
"The Kodiak is the next-generation bush plane and is made for
such a time as this," said John Boyd, president of MAF. "It can
land on short, unpaved airstrips to get essential humanitarian help
to its destination quickly and safely in the absence of viable
roads. The Kodiak will greatly expand our ability to quickly take
aid where it is most needed."
The cargo aboard the Kodiak included two boxes of aid collected
by 9-year-old Moise Salois of Nampa, Idaho. Young Moise, adopted
from an orphanage in Haiti four years ago, still has two brothers
and a grandmother living in Haiti. Among items Moise sent to Haiti
on the MAF flight were medical supplies, infant formula, food and
clothing.
This aircraft is the fourth MAF Kodiak. Three others are already
serving overseas in remote areas. MAF will place 18 Kodiaks into
service over the next few years. They are replacing many of
their Cessna 206s because the Kodiak can carry nearly twice the
cargo, making aid deliveries cheaper and more efficient.
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