Cessna Seaplane Pilots Save Lives in Papua New Guinea

Samaritan Aviation seaplane medevac service helps save thousands of lives in Papua New Guinea.

Tuesday, August 02, 2022 at 09:22 AM ET

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Samaritan Aviation’s Mark Palm pilots the non-profit’s recently acquired Cessna 206 during last week’s EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. [Photo: Thom Patterson]

Key Takeaways:

Samaritan Aviation provides a critical medical and healthcare lifeline to 120 remote villages in Papua New Guinea using a fleet of modified Cessna 206 seaplanes.
The Christian nonprofit's pilots conduct thousands of life-saving emergency missions annually, dramatically reducing travel time to essential hospital care from days to an average of 45 minutes for conditions like pregnancies, snake bites, and injuries.
Operating in a highly challenging environment, pilots undergo intensive bush flying training to navigate extreme weather, dense rainforests, and rapidly changing river conditions, utilizing specially adapted aircraft.
Founded by Mark Palm based on a deep personal commitment and vision, Samaritan Aviation relies on fundraising and partnerships to sustain and expand its vital operations providing access and hope.

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The EAA Seaplane Base on Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin, is far from the remote rainforest of Papua New Guinea, where a pilot and an airplane can mean the difference between life and death.

But that’s where FLYING found Mark Palm, CEO and co-founder of Samaritan Aviation, whose tiny fleet of Cessna 206 seaplanes and staff—including six pilots—serve as a medical and healthcare lifeline for 120 villages in the nation located north of Australia.