MAF's History in Chad

In 1965 John Ducker and Stuart King carried out the first MAF survey of needs in Chad.  By 1966, MAF Chad was in operation with a Cessna 185 amphibian supporting medical work in the Lake Chad region. Just three years later, a second aircraft was acquired and a new base was set up in Koumra.

Unfortunately, the political situation in Chad deteriorated and MAF was forced to stop operations because of the civil war in 1979. A request was made for MAF to re-establish its air service in Chad in November of 1980. As the civil war continued, the need for MAF grew and MAF was able to receive permission to start operations with a Cessna 206 in Bébalém. A year later, the base was relocated to N’Djamena.

When MAF learned there was a shortage of food in the Bébalém district in 1984, they immediately began flying food into the area. When the Bébalém district was threatened by locusts in 1987, MAF assisted with insect control to prevent another famine. The base in Bébalém was opened and closed several times before finally closing permanently in 1995, but operations continued from the base in N’Djamena.

In 2005, a new hangar and offices were constructed in N’Djamena and a Cessna 208 Caravan was added to the fleet. The Cessna 206 was sold in 2009 and the program operated with just the Caravan until a Cessna 182 with an SMA diesel engine was acquired three years later. Despite ongoing unrest and tensions, MAF continued to serve the people of Chad as much as possible.

At the end of 2016, MAF received Aircraft Maintenance Organization (AMO) approval and in 2019 we received our own Air Operators Certificate (AOC). MAF is registered as an NGO and plans to continue serving the people of Chad for as long as services are required.