For hundreds of thousands of people living along the East Sepik River in Northeast PNG and the countless villages scattered along isolated river systems in the Southern Gulf Province, one flight can make a life-saving impact.
In these rural regions, roads are sparse and hospitals are non-existent. When tragedy strikes, medical help is a 3-day canoe ride away.
But mothers giving birth, children with diseases, and tribe members with spear wounds often don’t have three days to spare.
That’s why Samaritan Aviation offers free emergency flights in the remote regions of Papua New Guinea! Our Cessna 206 seaplanes have the critical capability of taking off and landing along the rivers that make up much of this terrain.
Critical flights to the only hospital
Deliveries to remote river aid posts
During disease outbreaks or natural disasters
Daily prayer and Gospel lessons
In the remote regions of East Sepik and the Gulf Province, geography creates a major barrier to medical care. The Sepik River stretches over 700 miles, winding through dense jungle, with many villages located more than 100 miles from the nearest hospital. Reaching help often means a grueling three-day canoe journey. Along the Gulf, vast mangrove swamps, heavy rainfall, and 4,000 miles of twisting waterways make travel unpredictable and exhausting. With no roads and limited infrastructure, over 700,000 people are isolated from life-saving medical care—unless help comes to them.
Samaritan Aviation relies on the Cessna 206, a rugged and dependable seaplane designed for quick access in the challenging environments of PNG. With its ability to take off and land directly on rivers, this aircraft eliminates the need for runways and provides direct access to villages that would otherwise be unreachable.
Thanks to these aircraft, we can respond in hours—not days—making the difference between life and death.
No runways required, perfect for PNG’s waterways
Piston engines fire up instantly, reducing delay in emergencies
Spacious enough for a stretcher and medical personnel
Ideal for remote operations with minimal infrastructure
Fueling our planes is no small feat—we receive our fuel from Australia, delivered in barrels (drums) rather than the standard refueling systems used elsewhere. It’s a costly and labor-intensive process, but it’s the only way to keep our planes flying and saving lives. Your donations literally fuel this ministry!
Every drum of fuel has eternal impact.
200 drums of fuel provide life-saving flights for 350 people each year
