Float Plane Bound for Papua New Guinea Lands at Business Jet Center, Love Field

Making refueling arrangements are from left Dr. David Brown, M.D.: Mark Palm VP & Director of Aviation for Samaritan Aviation; Don Pace, Safety and Training Coordinator, Business Jet Center; and Gary Bustin, President, Samaritan Aviation. Dr. Brown, who has traveled on medical mission trips to PNG with Samaritan and performed several surgeries, is a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon and sits on Samaritan's Board acting as Field Surgical Director.Samaritan Aviation’s refurbished amphibious float plane landed at Business Jet Center, DAL, as part of a nationwide tour before being deployed to Papua New Guinea (PNG) in a medical relief role including emergency evacuations, patient transports and medical supply deliveries. Named ‘The Spirit of Paradise,’ the refurbished Cessna 206 aircraft is equipped with floats, which will allow the aircraft to be used as a lifeline for more than 500,000 people who live in remote villages along the rugged North Coast of PNG and the Sepik River.

Currently there are no aircraft equipped with floats in PNG and it is often a 14-day walk to reach the only hospital, which puts villagers in peril if they have a life threatening emergency. While at Business Jet Center, Samaritan Aviation, a non-profit mission’s aviation organization based out of Montrose, Colo., hosted a reception to thank local donors and supporters who helped raised funds needed for the operation of the aircraft in PNG.

According to Palm, who is also an A&P Technician, the 1977 model 206 took more than a year to refurbish, primarily with the help of volunteers. Palm will be stationed in PNG for three years to help establish the new medical airlift service and train support staff.