Four years after the first plans were laid, MAF pilots are now based in Balimo, after MAF Technologies provided the last steppingstone and installed economical and reliable solar power systems for their new homes.

Reliable power and good communications have made it a lot easier for the two MAF pilots and their young families to settle in quickly.  The move will further strengthen the MAF-SDP partnership and will considerably streamline aviation services.  This will ensure consistent support for SDP’s expanding education, agribusiness, and health projects.

MAF Pilot Joel Rominger said operating from Balimo, rather than making the long journey from Mount Hagen, will boost MAF’s ability to fly SDP’s ten health patrol teams to around 50 airstrip communities.  At the personal level, it has also given his family the opportunity to get to know people in the region.

The SDP Health patrols are an important part of SDP’s work, with a focus on providing primary health care, health worker training, medical supplies and hygiene education to isolated communities that are only accessible by air. SDP Health Administration Manager Ross Baibuni said the service allows far greater access with MAF’s aviation support.

“If we could not fly into the remote places with difficult access, we wouldn’t be able to deliver regular health services that drive change. MAF also helps us by dropping maintenance supplies for airstrip remediation, thus it is a highly successful partnership.  This is a partnership where two very different organisations bring their considerable strengths together, to create impact,” he said.

SDP is continuing to build more homes at the SDP Balimo Hub to provide staff housing for their multiple initiatives.  The Balimo College is also based at the Hub which includes a FODE program and a Teacher’s College with further plans afoot.

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