Mission Aviation Fellowship
By Padre C. Miles Surrey Wing ATC
Last Update: 22/09/2006 18:27:26 What is MAF you may say? It was started soon after the Second World War by ex-RAF pilots keen to use their wartime aviation skills and knowledge to further the mission of the church in what are now called the developing countries. MAF uses light aircraft to transport mission partners, church workers, medical supplies and workers, emergency aid and injured people in countries where roads are difficult or non-existent. MAF operates mainly in Africa, South America, Bangladesh and Indonesia. Somewhere in the world an MAF aircraft takes off or lands every 3 minutes on average – quite an operation! Why should the ATC be interested? Quite simply because of our common aviation interest. In 2003 the Corps Chaplains' Committee decided that it would be good to develop the linkage between the ATC and MAF. I agreed to take the lead in developing the link. An article about MAF was published in the November/ December 2003 (centenary of powered flying) issue of Air Cadet. How can these links be developed?Overseas visits.A Wing or Squadron making a visit to a developing country might be able to fit in a short, say half-day, visit to an MAF base. For further information, contact the MAF Volunteers manager, Kevin Crook (see end of article) or me.Squadron or Personal Links.Why not receive MAF's quarterly magazine and be informed regularly of the worldwide work of MAF? Contact MAF at Folkestone. Squadron Talk. In 2005 I went to Tanzania for 3 weeks as a short-term volunteer with MAF, mainly at their base in Dodoma. I am very happy to speak, for say 3/4 hr., with a Power Point presentation, about the work of MAF, based on my personal experience. Short-Term Volunteering. Although there were no volunteer teams going abroad in 2006, following the move of the co-ordinator at Folkestone and a review of the volunteering policy, it is likely that there will be the opportunity in the future for interested people to apply for inclusion in a volunteer team. Volunteers are required to be at least 18 years old and may be up to 65 years+. They must be committed Christians and have skills that are appropriate to the team's assignments, which might involve work on aircraft, practical work at the base and in local schools etc. Contact MAF at Folkestone. July 2006 Rev Christopher Miles Regional Chaplain London and South East Region ContactsMission Aviation Fellowship,Castle Hill Avenue,Folkestone,KentCT20 2TNTel 01303 850 950E mail: maf@maf-uk.orgMAF website www.maf-uk.orgKevin Crook,MAF Volunteers Manager,3 Cotswold Drive,Wellingborough,NorthantsNN8 2JBTel: 01933 279782,E mail: Kevin.Crook@maf-uk.orgRev Christopher Miles,2 Spa Close,Hadlow,Tonbridge,KentTN11 0JXTel 01732 852323E mail: cmiles@supanet.com
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