Tired of feeling unwell along Timor-Leste’s winding roads, an elderly man is happy to discover MAF as an alternative travel option for him to return home.
Story by Lobitos de Jesus Alves
“I came to Dili by bus and vomited throughout the journey because of carsickness. I continued to feel sick after the long bus trip,” said Mr Ernesto Agostinho, an 80-year-old man from Tilomar, Suai, on the southern coast of Timor-Leste.
Mr Agostinho travelled for six hours by bus to the national capital, Dili, to attend his daughter’s university graduation.
The road from Suai to Dili crosses many mountain ranges and is a long, bumpy and tiring journey for anyone, let alone an 80-year-old. The winding road across the island, with seasonal landslides and extensive unsealed portions, left Mr Agostinho looking for a better way to get back home to Suai.
“I didn’t want to experience the same situation as before,” said Mr Agostinho. “So, I called my son in Suai to find another option for me to get back.
“Then, they informed me that I would be traveling on an MAF plane which would be faster and wouldn’t make me feel sick.”
MAF provides a domestic ‘shuttle’ service to Suai and five other destinations, with regular flights up to three times a week. Local community members, NGO staff and government officials can avoid the cost of a charter flight, instead paying only seat fares.
Mr Agostinho expressed his feelings about getting on the MAF shuttle service.
“I would be sad if I had to travel back by bus, because I would experience the same situation as before. I’m very excited to have my first ever flight experience with MAF planes, and to explore the beautiful scenery of Timor-Leste,” he said.
I’d be sad to face the same struggles by bus again, so I’m excited for my first MAF flight—and to see Timor-Leste’s beauty from above
Happy to return to Suai by air in just 35 minutes, Mr Agostinho was feeling well and excited to look after his farm.
“I’m happy to get back to my hometown on the MAF plane without feeling sick again, so I can continue working on my farm. I have a small farm that grows various plants including cassava, beans, and corn,” he added.
Moises de Jesus, the 32-year-old Chief of Airport Operations at Suai airport, explained the impact of MAF shuttle flights on his fellow people, like Mr Agostinho.
“MAF has a direct impact on local people, especially by providing air transportation in emergency situations, which makes it easier for Suai people to reach the capital, Dili, quickly,” said Mr de Jesus, who works to overlook the airport’s safety and security, also providing marshalling for MAF’s regular shuttle flights.
“We used to spend more than 5 hours travelling by car, but now thanks to MAF, we can travel quickly and comfortably,” he said, speaking of the regular flights every Monday and Friday to and from Suai.
Arnaldo Falo, MAF’s Base Maintenance and Engineering Assistant, has served with MAF for nearly 15 years. He explained how shuttle flights have impacted the people in Timor-Leste.
“MAF’s shuttle flights are very important in enabling people from remote areas to reach Dili, the country’s capital, helping them avoid the long and tiring bus journeys,” said Mr Falo.
“MAF also operates its ‘Closing the Loop’ program, which enables medevac patients to get back to their hometowns without experiencing carsickness and enduring long journeys that could affect their health after hospital discharge.”