Commissioning Service for the New Training Aircraft
The unseasonal grey clouds and rain showers did not dampen the celebration of the commissioning of a new MAF Cessna 182T training aircraft in Mareeba.
Registered as VH-WLX, the plane has been fully funded by Australian donors: Geoff and Bev Atkinson, a legacy gift from Trevor Withnall, and 800 others who responded sacrificially to the fundraising appeal. MAF could not serve without the generous support and long term partnership of like-minded individuals who seek to transform the lives of people living in poverty and isolation.
Geoff, Bev, and Trevor’s daughter Joanne, attended the commissioning service and celebration, along with MAF International’s CEO Dave Fyock, MAF Australia’s Chairman Leighton Pittendrigh-Smith, MAF’s Asia Pacific Director Stephen Charlesworth and MAF Australia’s General Manager, Ian McDougall.
The day began with a tour of MAF’s Mareeba base, including the pilot training school. The Mareeba base is also the aircraft engineering hub for maintenance of MAF’s fleet of aircraft stationed in Arnhem Land, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Mongolia.
The Commissioning Service began with aircraft engineer John Hermanus leading a time of worship. John then shared how MAF had transformed his own life. Growing up in an isolated village in Borneo he had dreamed of working for MAF. He was accepted as an assistant around the hangar, and later gained qualifications in engineering and flight streams.
John shared, ‘Today we gather here to dedicate this airplane to God, before it’s used to train young men and women, to equip them before they go out to the mission fields in order to share the good news of Jesus Christ and to break the cycle of poverty in both physical and spiritual lives of isolated people.
‘To all MAF’s donors I would like to thank you very much for your generous support. You can’t yet see the impact, and maybe never will, but I promise that you are making a bigger difference than you know because, I have seen the fruit of MAF’s ministry and I am one of them.’
Others shared how the celebration was not simply about the aircraft, but about partnership, friendship and relationship.
Dave Fyock, MAF International’s CEO, emphasised ‘The plane is a tool. For many years MAF has been reaching the nations. We want to see transformation come to isolated peoples, physically and spiritually.
‘It is unlikely that this plane will go to a remote location, but it is one more way of multiplying, by training people more specifically. This gift is deeply, deeply appreciated and valued. As we train students my hope is this tool will help them transition to the larger aircraft quicker.
‘I’m a great believer in the future, and this plane represents the future. We still have a large amount of work to do. I hope you capture the vision of what you’re providing for.’
Trevor Withnall was an innovator – he saw a need and took the initiative to develop a solution. Having established an engineering business, he had been a long-term supporter of MAF. He had his own hangar, and flew his own C182 all the way from California to Australia, island hopping across the Pacific.
Trevor had wanted to do more with and for MAF, but ill health prevented it. With an unwavering faith, he believed in being a good steward of all that God had given him. It was a privilege to have his daughter Joanne attend the occasion – a moving time for her, the hangar reminding her so much of her father.
Geoff Atkinson shares, ‘The call for Australian supporters to partially fund this ‘new’ training aircraft, was an opportunity for us to participate in a ‘living gift’, in the sense that we will be able to read and hear of WLX’s service during our lifetime. The fact that the purchase was fully funded from Australia is indeed a further confirmation of God’s blessing on this aircraft and His work through MAF.
‘It was January 1956, that MAF really became a fixture in my mind, and one of the Ministries that I, and later with my wife, have been able to provide prayer and financial support to over the years. We thank God for His many faithful servants who have participated in His collective Ministries over the Centuries.’
‘We pray God’s richest blessings on MAF operations worldwide, but on the day of dedication, in particular on C182T VH-WLX, and all associated with this aircraft – instructors, student pilots, engineers and ground crew.’
The day ended with the opportunity for donors and visitors to experience a short circuit flight in the new plane in the afternoon.
The benefits of this new plane to MAF’s training aircraft include:
- Being a stepping stone from small light aircraft to larger, faster, more complex aircraft
- It’s more challenging in relation to flight management skills
- It has 21st century avionics, similar to MAF’s aircraft in the programmes
- It has constant speed propeller per field aircraft
- A more sophisticated auto pilot
- It provides a good entry level commercial pilot training platform
- It’s performance is closer to our typical field aircraft
- It’s adequate for charter operations
- It’s rugged and durable
- It’s a model used in Africa
- It’s relatively low cost to operate
