Our training journeys

Timothée, pilot At the age of 15, flying radio-controlled aircraft at a Christian aviation camp gave Timothée Berger dreams of flying.

Today the Swiss pilot flies with MAF in Arnhem Land, Australia. There he is part of a new generation of pilots carrying health teams, pupils and teachers to bring help, hope and healing to this remote region.

“Aviation only interested me if I could connect it with something meaningful for God,” says Timothée. “I was especially fascinated by the stories of a woman pilot who talked about her experiences with MAF.”

Timothée chose MAF’s training centre in Mareeba, Australia, because he wanted to improve his English while learning to fly.

“From the first day to the last you are flying the whole time. And you probably learn a bit faster that way,” he says.

And his advice to anyone wanting to follow a similar path: “Be patient and persistent, because it is a long road. And pray about it.”

Melissa, pilot Melissa first joined MAF in Arnhem Land in 2022 as a reservations officer. After a few months she felt called to swap her desk for the cockpit.

As a trained pilot she had the choice between working for airlines or flying for MAF.

“After arriving here I fell in love with the place pretty quickly,” she says.

Now that Mel has completed the training required to become a MAF pilot, she flies over East Arnhem Land, where rough roads and seasonal flooding isolate communities.

On one flight Mel had just dropped off schoolchildren in Gangan when the call came in that a pregnant woman who was unwell needed to be collected. She removed a seat from the aircraft to give the woman more room, prayed with her team and set off.

“She was in quite a lot of pain as she tried to get into the aircraft,” Mel reports. “But once we had climbed and were flying, she was asleep within ten minutes and slept the whole way back.”

Jade, Maintenance Operations Supervisor In Papua New Guinea, Jade Kunika started out as ground crew and worked his way up to Maintenance Operations Supervisor at MAF’s base in Mount Hagen.

“It was not easy,” Jade says. “Being an engineer takes a lot of discipline, hard work, commitment and dedication. There were times when you had to study intensively to pass the exams and get the licence. There was often little time left for the people around you.

Reflecting on his journey, he adds: “Ten years ago I did not know I was capable of this. And yes, I want to thank MAF. And thank God for MAF.”

Matthew and Chris, engineers Matthew Veale and Chris Watkins began their training journey in the UK. They talk about MAF’s Engineering Training Scheme and their dream of serving isolated communities.

“I really wanted to join MAF. I felt called to it, and I have always enjoyed finding out how things work. So it all took its natural course,” says Matthew. “I am gaining a great deal of really valuable experience with the different aircraft MAF uses in its programmes.”

Chris has completed the two-year course in Perth, Scotland, and still has to gain practical experience before receiving his engineer’s licence. “It has been a wonderful journey. I was not sure I could do it, but MAF was very encouraging and helped me work out which areas I could work in,” he says. “When I was working in IT, I became more and more disillusioned with business life. I wondered whether I could use my working hours for God’s work instead.”

And his advice for the next generation who feel called to this service? “Get in touch, talk to the guys, they will help you find the right place for you.”