Soaring Fuel Prices To Blame For Fewer Relief Flights
Nampa, ID Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) -- a faith-based,
nonprofit ministry that serves missions and isolated people around
the world with aviation, communications and learning technologies
-- announced this week it has been forced to cut operating costs by
10 percent in the wake of soaring gas prices to avoid reducing
flight services. And that means fewer flights to areas that need
aid.
High fuel costs are having a negative impact on all relief
agencies, MAF tells ANN. "It is a serious crisis," said David
Fyock, MAF vice president of resources.
The MAF fleet of 134 aircraft flies in the most remote regions
of the world and works in areas where some people earn only a
dollar a day. Since MAF is unable to pass along the entire fuel
cost increase to clients, the ministry is absorbs more of those
costs.
Aviation, in the minds of many, is the heart and soul of
reaching the unreached peoples of the world. Missionary aircraft
can take people into areas where no roads exist. They deliver food,
medicines and other supplies when roads are impassible. But this
effective mode of transportation is in peril, as the cost of
aviation fuel rises out of control.
"Automobile gasoline in the United States is expected to reach
$5 per gallon or higher," said Fyock. "Today, MAF has no choice but
to pay as much as $13 a gallon for aviation gas overseas. That
means it costs about $234 an hour in fuel alone to run an airplane.
Some MAF programs are already anticipating $18 per gallon."
Not only are prices climbing to unprecedented levels, but the
shortage of avgas overseas adds a second crippling blow to the
ministry, said Fyock.
"According to the United Nations, between 1995 and 2005, world
export of avgas has declined to 175,000 metric tons from 310,000
metric tons – a whopping 43.5 percent reduction. For all
users of avgas, this means fierce competition for a dwindling
supply," he said.
Because the areas in which MAF is working are so remote, the
ministry has to stockpile fuel. The amount of money tied up in fuel
inventory is twice what it was a year ago, said Fyock.
"The problem is so serious that after much negotiating, our
Indonesia flight programs recently had to buy fuel in one large
bulk order - enough for three months of flight operations," he
said. "The cost to MAF was a staggering half a million
dollars!"
Not much can be done in the short-term, Fyock said, other than
raise more funding to offset the additional costs. However, new
technology will help in the long run.
"Long-term, there are some different aircraft and engine designs
that are coming out. The KODIAK 100 (shown below) is an example of
one of these aircraft that uses jet fuel instead of avgas. And jet
fuel worldwide is about one-third the price of avgas," Fyock
said.
Diesel engines could replace current avgas engines as well,
which also would reduce the cost of fuel, Fyock added.
Founded in 1945, MAF missionary teams of aviation,
communications, technology and education specialists overcome
barriers in remote areas, transform lives and build God's Kingdom
by enabling the work of more than 1,000 organizations around the
world. With its fleet of 134 bush aircraft, MAF serves in 51
countries with an average of 281 flights daily across Africa, Asia,
Eurasia and Latin America.