For the first time, a riverside community far from Lake Murray came into contact with the MAF floatplane which can now bring access to health and other services.
Story by Aquila Matit
Villagers of Kapikam in the Lake Murray region of Western Province in Papua New Guinea, were in tears of joy when the floatplane landed in their community. After the floatplane team surveyed the area, this community was able to have a water landing site with the help of MAF.
Captain Chad Tilley, who flew the floatplane to Kapikam, said the trip was the highlight of the first few weeks of its operations.
“We have just opened the water landing site for Kapikam and we have been able to make contact for the first time for MAF. This is history for us and the locals,” he said.
Due to the geographical location of the lake communities, which are surrounded by water, the local people had to travel to Boboa station by canoe to access health and other services.
Chad said the community is one of the most remote, surrounded by forest and far from Boboa and the towns people travel to.
“It is difficult for these people to access services in the area and throughout the province. To get to Boboa to access the health centre since there is no Aid Post in Kapikam, it is far and very difficult to travel by canoe. To get to the town of Kiunga, where there is a hospital, it takes five days by boat. A flight would take 22 minutes,” said Chad.
To get to the town of Kiunga, where there is a hospital, it takes five days by boat. A flight would take 22 minutes
The crowded Kapikam waterfront was filled with excitement as locals talked about how they would make good use of the floatplane.
Kapikam councillor, Kalia Poli, knows what it means for his region.
“Me, my family and my community are so happy. This is the first of its kind in my community. People are so interested, so everyone is here to see a plane land on the water and in my community,” he said.
“My people did not move to other places but stayed and waited for such a service. We have difficulties with transportation to get to Boboa when we have problems like snake or pig bites, and difficulties with women giving birth.”
Erick Soman, Kapikam’s youth leader, said it was through hard work and commitment they were able to see such a service.
“I am pleased with everyone in the community who has contributed to clearing the water landing site on the Kaiyam River and MAF’s efforts in this project,” the 28-year-old said.
We will work closely with MAF to make sure it is safe for landing. Everyone is happy and we can’t wait to use the floatplane
“We will work closely with MAF to make sure it is safe for landing. Everyone is happy and we can’t wait to use the floatplane.”
Terry Fahey, who oversees the construction of the docking stations for MAF, was there for the official opening of the water landing site.
“The construction was difficult and time-consuming,” he said. “We had to make sure that the docking station was in the right place and that there was enough space for the aircraft to taxi, take off and land safely.”
The cost of the construction site has been covered by PNG Sustainable Development Program (SDP), which will be able to bring health and education services to Kapikam through the float plane in the future.
This water landing site was a challenge for the team with a short path for landing on the river with very tall trees, but they were able to prepare a way to get in and out of the area safely.
The floatplane project is a joint initiative of SDP and MAF for Western Province. MAF will perform the flights, and SDP will operate health and educational services. The plane will serve Kapikam and the lake communities by transporting patients to a health centre or for educational and commercial opportunities.
