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Arnhem Land

MAF in Arnhem Land

For over 50 years, MAF has been a trusted and integral part of Arnhem Land, building meaningful relationships with the Yolngu people and serving this vibrant region in northern Australia.

Each year, MAF transports over 13,000 passengers and operates lifeline flights to more than 50 remote airstrips, connecting isolated communities and islands with essential services and supplies. These flights support healthcare, education and community development, including patient transport, medevacs and domestic violence evacuations. MAF is the only provider of scheduled shuttle flights in the region, offering an affordable, regular service alongside flexible charter options. Beyond transportation, MAF partners with local leaders and organisations to meet cultural and practical needs, supports churches with outreach flights, assists Bible translators, and shares the Gospel through texts, resources and films. By bridging the gap between remote communities and vital resources, MAF enhances quality of life and empowers people to thrive in Arnhem Land.

  • 8 Aircraft
  • 50 Destinations
  • 24 Staff
  • 13282 Passengers per year
  • 6484 Flight Legs per year
  • 39545 Cargo (kgs) per year
  • 73 Partners

Arnhem Land, located in the remote north-eastern corner of Australia’s Northern Territory, is a vast and rugged region defined by rocky escarpments, rivers, swamps and waterfalls.

With unpaved roads and vast distances between communities, road travel in Arnhem Land is dangerous, time-consuming and often impossible during the wet season when flooding cuts off access for months.

To overcome these challenges, MAF operates six GA8 Airvans and two Cessna Caravans, connecting 50 community airstrips and providing lifeline flights that also link otherwise inaccessible islands to the mainland.

MAF’s work in Arnhem Land began with Rev. Harold Shepherdson (“Sheppy”), a Methodist missionary who arrived on Elcho Island in 1928 and pioneered aviation in the region to connect the scattered Yolngu people. After meeting MAF pilots in the 1950s, Sheppy passed his operations to MAF upon his retirement in 1973. Since establishing a base at Gove Airport in 1975, MAF has expanded its services to include Regular Public Transport (RPT) flights, charter options, and, by 2017, individual seat bookings, improving access to healthcare, education and essential services across this challenging and beautiful region.


Other places we serve

  • Cairns

  • Guinea

  • Mareeba

  • Papua New Guinea

  • South Sudan

  • Timor-Lesté

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