MAF in Brazil
MAF in Brazil is an affiliate program. MAF began serving in Brazil over 75 years ago. Over time, national staff took over the administration of the work and MAF-US now provides them with technical assistance when needed.
Brazil is the largest country situated on the East side of South America. There is a vast gap between wealthy Brazilians and the poor. In major cities the wealthy enjoy modern, comfortable lifestyles while the poor live in flimsy shacks on hillsides or wasteland. Most of the resources are channeled to urban hospitals and doctors to the neglect of community health services.
In 1956, MAF initiated a flight service to missions serving on Brazil’s frontiers. As the initiative expanded, the Brazilian entity Asas de Socorro (ADS) was incorporated in 1964. By the early 1980s, MAF’s aircraft, equipment and buildings were transferred to ADS.
In 1985, ADS started a life-saving project, enabling doctors and medical teams to bring medical care to people living in isolated areas.
Our Operation
Today, ADS is an autonomous Brazilian entity incorporated under Brazilian law as a non-profit public service, with a Brazilian board of directors and Brazilian operational leadership. ADS, with the help of 48 staff, operates two Cessna 172, three Cessna 206, one Cessna 210 aircraft, serving over 30 partners.
Its goal is to support missions and churches that are preaching the Gospel and bringing humanitarian support to hard-to-reach areas in the Amazon basin region of Brazil.
ADS also reaches local communities with the Gospel through youth projects, and has a workshop that services the needs of the fleet and those of other organisations.
Because the Brazilian authorities require aviation personnel to have the highest motivational and technical standards, ADS has established a school to prepare pilots and engineers for the types of flying necessary for Brazil.