Serving together since 1945
After World War II, a few veteran pilots in the US and UK dreamed of a way they could use their flying skills to reach isolated people with the gospel. They founded MAF a few years later, and for 80 years now men and women have been using aviation to share Christ’s love in the most remote places on earth. Learn about some of our earliest pilots, including Betty Greene, who conducted MAF’s inaugural flight; and Nate Saint. They both appear in the vintage footage above.
MAF History Timeline
Scroll through this interactive timeline to see highlights of what God has done through MAF, its partners, and faithful donors—serving together for eight decades.
1945
1945
Incorporation
CAMF/MAF is incorporated on May 20.
1946
1946
First Airplane & Flight
On February 14, the first CAMF/MAF aircraft is purchased: a 1933 red Waco biplane with a new 220-horsepower Continental engine.
On February 23, Betty Greene flies MAF's new airplane on its inaugural flight, transporting two Wycliffe workers from La Habra, California, to Tuxpan, Mexico.
On February 23, Betty Greene flies MAF's new airplane on its inaugural flight, transporting two Wycliffe workers from La Habra, California, to Tuxpan, Mexico.
1948
1948
Alas de Socorro
MAF launches a program in Ecuador under the name Alas de Socorro.
1952
1952
Aerial Survey of DNG
Grady Parrott conducts the first aerial missionary survey of the Dani people in the Baliem Valley of Dutch New Guinea (now Papua, Indonesia).
1952
DNG Program
MAF establishes a program in Dutch New Guinea.
1956
1956
Martyrs
After making contact with the Waorani people, MAF pilot Nate Saint and four other missionaries are martyred on “Palm Beach” on Ecuador’s Curaray River.
1958
1958
New Programs
MAF launches programs in Oaxaca, Mexico, and Boa Vista, Brazil. In the following decades, MAF launches programs in several other countries of Latin America.
1959
1959
DNG Harvest
MAF flies a C&MA missionary and two Dani missionaries to the Swart Valley of Dutch New Guinea, where the Danis share the gospel with an enemy tribe. Soon after, 1,000 members of the tribe commit their lives to Christ.
1961
1961
Zaire Program
MAF establishes a program in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo).
1964
1964
Zaire Rescue
During a time of anarchy and violence in Zaire, MAF conducts rescue operations. Many missionaries are killed or displaced.
1969
1969
Kalimantan Program
MAF opens a program in Kalimantan, Indonesia.
1976
1976
Papua Earthquake
MAF conducts relief flights and medical evacuations in the wake of a severe earthquake in Papua, Indonesia, on June 26.
1978
1978
Lesotho Program
MAF conducts emergency food relief flights in the highlands of Lesotho. This leads to establishment of MAF’s Lesotho program and a long-term affiliation with the Lesotho Flying Doctor Service.
1981
1981
Ethiopia Famine
Under contract with World Vision, MAF-US initiates relief flights in Ethiopia in support of famine intervention efforts.
1984
1984
Mali Base
MAF establishes a base in Mali to provide famine relief flights and develop a communications network. Other projects follow, including a well-digging outreach that continues to this day.
1985
1985
Cessna Caravans
The first Cessna Caravans are introduced into the MAF-US fleet, with three aircraft assigned to serve in Ethiopia, Mali, and Zaire (now the DRC).
1986
1986
Haiti Program
MAF opens a program in Haiti.
1990
1990
Albania Program
MAF launches its first non-flight program, in Albania, providing leadership, communications, and logistics support for health projects and mission organizations. Flight services begin in 1994.
1994
1994
Rwandan Genocide
MAF provides flights, communications, and satellite email services for groups responding to the Rwandan genocide crisis.
1997
1997
Central Asia
After years of exploratory work in the area, MAF's humanitarian affiliate begins a program in Central Asia.
1999
1999
Mozambique Cyclones
MAF establishes a base in Nampula, Mozambique. When Cyclones Eline and Gloria strike the following year, MAF responds.
2000
2000
Operation ACCESS!
MAF launches Operation ACCESS! This landmark project would survey 364 isolated areas in 64 countries, identifying areas of the world with barriers to the gospel.
2004
2004
Aviation English
MAF's humanitarian affiliate in Southeast Asia initiates an Aviation English class. In 2012, a Flight Training Center is established to prepare students for a variety of aviation-related roles.
2005
2005
Aceh Tsunami
Following a horrific tsunami that kills 170,000 people in Aceh, Indonesia, MAF provides flights and communications services. MAF remains in the area to establish a flight program that operates until 2018.
2006
2006
HQ Relocation
MAF relocates its headquarters from Redlands, California, to Nampa, Idaho.
2008
2008
First Papua Hope School
Led by MAF’s Wally Wiley, MAF staff open the first Papua Hope School in Sentani, Papua, Indonesia. The school provides Christian education to children from isolated villages. In subsequent years, MAF flights would enable sister schools to open in several remote areas.
2009
2009
First Quest Kodiak
MAF receives its first Quest Kodiak aircraft. By the end of the year three Kodiaks are serving overseas.
2010
2010
Haiti Earthquake
When a devastating earthquake strikes Haiti, MAF provides flights, communications, and logistics support.
2013
2013
Rumah Singgah House
MAF opens the Rumah Singgah hospital guest house to minister to patients and family members flown by MAF for treatment in Tarakan, Kalimantan, Indonesia.
2014
2014
Hupla Bible Dedication
MAF flights support a three-day celebration in the village of Soba, in Papua, Indonesia, for the Hupla Bible dedication.
2015
2015
Nepal Earthquakes
Following two deadly earthquakes in Nepal, MAF coordinates helicopter flights there for more than a year.
2016
2016
Hurricane Matthew
After Hurricane Matthew strikes southwestern Haiti, MAF provides more than 400 disaster-relief flights to bring in food, aid workers, tarps, and other supplies.
2016
New Testament Dedications
Three New Testament dedications are celebrated in eastern DRC—the Mayogo, Logo, and Ndruna languages—after MAF served these SIL International translation projects for decades.
2018
2018
Bunia IDP Camps
MAF begins providing food, water, tarps and other supplies to an internally displaced people (IDP) camp in Bunia, eastern DRC. Staff establish ministries in the camps: sewing classes for women, “JESUS” Film showings, and reconciliation workshops.
2018
DRC Ebola Outbreak
MAF flies 56 flight legs in response to an Ebola outbreak in northeastern DRC, carrying 114 health workers and 16,671 of cargo, including 1,259 kg of experimental Ebola vaccines.
2019
2019
Lesotho Flying Pastors
MAF and the Lesotho Flying Pastors form a stronger partnership. MAF begins sending LFP teams to visit remote mountain villages every month to share the gospel and disciple new believers.
2020
2020
75th Anniversary
Thanks to God’s provision and protection over the ministry, and faithful donors, MAF celebrates its 75th Anniversary.
2020
First Papua Hope School Graduation
Nine students are in the first graduating class of the Papua Hope School (Sekolah Papua Harapan – SPH).
2020
MAF Pilot Joyce Lin's Legacy of Faith
An MAK Kodiak, just minutes after taking off from Sentani, Papua, Indonesia, crashes into Lake Sentani. MAF pilot Joyce Lin, the only one on board, does not survive. She is welcomed home to her Savior, while her legacy of faith continues to inspire many.
2021
2021
Papua Pilot Rescue
A rebel group burns an MAF Kodiak after it lands in the village of Pagamba, Papua, Indonesia. The pilot is held captive and God uses local pastors to protect him. Later in the day he’s released and together with the pastors treks in the dark to a halfway point. The next morning, a helicopter lands at Togi village where the pilot is waiting, and he’s delivered safely back to his family.
2021
Mozambique Emergency Evacuations
Ambassador Aviation Ltd. (MAF in Mozambique) begins evacuating Mozambicans fleeing for their lives from a violent extremist group. Flights also carry relief supplies—medicine and food—provided by other partners in the area.
2021
DRC Base Relocation
Due to increasing violence near the MAF base at Nyankunde, the MAF East DRC team evacuates to the city of Bunia, where they continue their operations. As militia groups make travel by road extremely dangerous, MAF’s air-bridge flights are in high demand, transporting several hundred people each month.
2021
Four Bible Translations Dedicated
Four New Testament Bible translations are dedicated in one day in western Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Pagabete, Mono, Lobala, and Ngbandi-Ngiri people groups—totaling close to half a million in population—now have God’s Word in their heart language.
2021
LFP Program Expansion
The Lesotho Flying Pastors (LFP) program expands to include three pastoral couples trained and sent by MAF to live full-time in the remote mountain communities of Thlanyaku, Matsaile, and Kuebunyane. LFP teams continue to rotatevisits to each location and complement the efforts of the pastors.
2022
2022
MAF Guinea Operations Launch
After a year and a half of planning, MAF-US and MAF International partner together to begin operations in Guinea, western Africa. Organizations here are eager for our services, and the first operational flight transports a couple working for an agricultural development organization.
2022
Una Bible Dedication
The Una Bible is dedicated in the village of Langda in Papua, Indonesia. MAF has been serving the missionaries involved in this translation since the early 1970s. This is the seventh complete Bible out of 125-plus languages throughout Papua.
2022
Five Gospel Translations in Kalimantan
In Kalimantan, Indonesia, the Gospel of Luke is translated into five languages for the first time—Punan, Lundayeh, Kenya Lepo’ke, Bulusu, and Agabag.MAF staff attend a dedication ceremony in Malinau and are recognized for their part in advancing these translations with transportation logistics and other needs.
2022
Haiti Crisis Response
Haiti experiences a humanitarian crisis with gangs controlling the roads and ports of entry, escalating fuel and food prices, and lack of basic services. MAF evacuates staff spouses and children back to the U.S. Pilots, mechanics, and other support staff work on a rotation basis—sheltering at the hangar—to keep flight operations going.
2022
Mozambique Imprisonment
MAF pilot Ryan Koher and two South Africans are wrongfully imprisoned in Mozambique while preparing to deliver supplies to an orphanage. They are provisionally released in March 2023 and Ryan returns to the U.S. in October 2023. In November 2024 all charges are finally dismissed.
2023
2023
Cleft Lip Surgeries in DRC
MAF transports a Samaritan’s Purse medical team to Bunia, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Then MAF flew children and their parents into Bunia where 71 received life-changing surgeries to correct cleft lips.
2023
Kuebunyane Water Project
After learning that the water system in Kuebunyane, Lesotho, had failed, leaving the village without water, MAF forms a partnership with the Lokisa Water Project to repair the system and bring water to this thirsty community.
2023
Haiti Operations Suspension
Due to lawlessness and gang violence in Haiti, MAF temporarily halts its operations and evacuates its expat staff. As the Haiti team continues in prayer for the nation, they assess the situation and wait for the right time to return.
2023
Four NT Translations in DRC
Four new translations of the New Testament are dedicated in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo that MAF serves: The Budu-Nita, Omiti, Komo, and Budu Koya. MAF supported these translation projects for decades.
2024
2024
Haiti Ministry Restart
MAF missionary families begin returning to Haiti. MAF purchases property and begins constructing staff houses in Pignon, in northern Haiti—a much safer part of the country. Further steps are taken toward resuming flight operations in 2025.
2024
Kalimantan Medical Missions
In Kalimantan, Indonesia, MAF transports more than 200 medical patients in 2024. Many of these patients and their families stay at MAF’s Rumah Singgah hospital guest house where they receive support and hear the gospel message.
2024
Pygmy Bible School Impact
MAF flies International Mission Board missionaries to a Pygmy area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo so they can teach in the Pygmy Oral Bible School. Bible School students share the gospel with more than 25,000 people and over 6,000 Pygmies make decisions to repent of sin or accept Christ for the first time.
2024
First Esrotnamba Baptisms
In the extremely isolated village of Esrotnamba, in Papua, Indonesia, five young people accept Jesus and are baptized. These are the first believers among the people of Esrotnamba. The MAF floatplane has been supporting missionary work in the village.
2025
2025
80th Anniversary
MAF's 80th Anniversary
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