A N N U A L R E P O R T

2014Gram Bangla . Av ia t i on P ro j e c t

BANGLADESH

MAF Program Approvals 3

More than 17 years ago MAF Bangladesh started with a vision to use aircraft as a tool to transform

the lives of isolated people in need. We provide flight support to facilitate the work of NGO’s with the goal to reduce human suffering and poverty. MAF, utilizing an amphibious aircraft, has access to over 300 water landing sites within the country, providing NGO’s access to new regions which they could not have served otherwise. Over the past 8 years MAF has been investing in the development of national staff in order to equip them to manage key positions within MAF Bangladesh. We are very happy to have national staff fill the important roles of Chief Engineer, Quality Manager, Operations Manager, Operations Administrator, Quality Manager, Safety Officer, Avionics Engineer, and Finance Manager. Many of these staff started in lower positions and with advanced training and mentoring have increased responsibility.

A Message from Our Country Director

The leadership and hard work of our national staff team is a stabilizing force that gives continuity to our operations and increases the efficiency and effectiveness of our organization. As MAF strives to help transform the lives of isolated people in Bangladesh, we are aware that we could not be fulfilling our vision without the help and support from the Government of Bangladesh, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB), Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Air Headquarter, Air Intelligence, DGFI, NSI, Special Branch of Police and Directorate. Thank you on behalf of MAF, for your cooperation and continued support. In this annual report we would like to report some of the highlights of 2014. We hope you will get a glimpse of MAF’s heart for the Bangladesh people. We are “Flying for Life”! Chad Tilley, MAF Bangladesh

2 A Message from Our Country Director MAF

The high-wing, turbine-engine, 8 passenger aircraft is fitted with a pair of floats that allow it to take off and land on water or land.

With over 8,000 kilom-eters of rivers, one third of Bangladesh is covered in water. Few airports and a

limited road network make much of the country very hard to access. MAF utilizes an amphibious (water or land) aircraft to serve humanitarian, medi-cal, and NGO organizations, allowing them to reach and assist some of the most remote areas of the country. Normally, these areas are where the need is the greatest. MAF accesses over 300 hard to reach water-landing sites, so that we can help organizations reach virtually any place in Bangladesh. MAF’s focus is on providing help and hope to neglected remote areas where devel-opment needs are the greatest. Most

MAF in BangladeshMeeting the Challenges

flights are for aid and development organizations, government agencies and emergency medical evacuations. The operation also gives training to Bangladeshi engineers and flight crew members. The aircraft has proved critical in responding to natural disasters. MAF’s plane was one of the first civilian aircraft to respond to people in need following the devastation wrought by cyclones Sidr, Aila, and Mahasen. Journeys that can take one to two days by land transport can be achieved in around one hour flying time, of vital importance for lifesaving medical evacuations. The time saving enables NGO’s to operate and monitor more pro-jects efficiently, projects they would otherwise not likely run in many of

MAF facilitates better project quality and economy by providing access for:Needs assessment,Project monitoring & accountability,Personal efficiency & safety,Donor support & advocacy:“Seeing is Believing”

Or 16 hours by car, steamer, & car

16 hours

50 minutes by aircraft

50 minutes

the most remote areas. MAF is a registered NGO under the name MAF Bangladesh with the approved Gram Bangla Aviation Project.

We work to help you accomplish more in less time.

Dr. Paramesh Nandy, Project Manager for the UN has two options to visit projects in Hatiya from Dhaka:

Arrive in 50 minutes or in 16 hours by car, steamer, & car?

MAF In Bangladesh 54 In Bangladesh MAF

Dr. Paramesh NandyProject Manager for the UN

• • • •

Beneficiaries:

MAF’s Mission:

Number of Aircraft

*These countries are served by MAF a�liate organizations

Canada(training)

USA(training)

Mexico*

Guatemala*

Haiti

Ecuador* Brazil*

Suriname*

Central AfricanRepublic

Congo

DR Congo

RwandaBurundi

Angola

ZambiaNamibia

Botswana

Chad

South Sudan

South AfricaLesotho Swaziland

Zimbabwe

Madagascar

Mozambique

Tanzania

Malawi

Kenya

SomaliaUganda

Sumatra

Kalimantan

Bangladesh

Papua

East Timor

Australia(training)

Mongolia*

Papua New Guinea

Arnhem Land

Ethiopia*

Worldwide

132

MAF is a worldwide not-for-profit team of

aviation professionals providing air transport in

places of deepest human need–remote places

where flying is not a luxury, but a lifeline.

aircraft

25 are served by MAFcountries

222on a typical day by MAF worldwideaverage flights

3Every three minutes an MAF plane is taking off or landing

minutes

1,650More than any other airlinedestinations reached

1,250Professional staff serve with MAF to enable work in the developing world

professional staff

MAF Worldwide 76 Worldwide MAF

For over 60 years, MAF has flown over

rivers, jungles, mountains, swamps and

deserts to bring thousands of men,

women and children medical care, emergency

relief, long-term development, and hope.

Following a disaster, MAF responds immediately to the need presented. Swift dialog allows the Ministry of Disaster Management access to a

survey flight of the affected areas to enable them to assess the situation first-hand.  Quickly, the govern-ment is able to act in response and communicate the disaster with aid organizations, which in turn mobilize appropriate relief efforts. MAF flights then deliver relief workers and much needed aid to distressed areas. MAF pledges a long-standing commitment to help disaster locations recover by supporting NGO’s such as Terra des Homes, HEED, BRAC, and Solidarités.

Dave Mather, British Red Cross Country Representative shares, “One of our primary aims is to be able to move quickly when something happens. Something could be an earthquake, it could be a cyclone or it could be a building collapse.” Our purpose is to, “save lives, no discrimi-nation, working with everybody and trying to help as many people as pos-sible.” The Red Cross plays a major role in disaster recovery, and raising awareness for disaster preparedness. A single cyclone can destroy count-less lives and ruin the livelihoods of others still. Immediate response when a disaster strikes is challenging due to

the transportation system within the country, the likelihood of road clo-sures, and the lack of infrastructure. Dave finds working with MAF inte-gral, “We may bring people shelter experts, assessment experts, and a clean water supply. We need to get [our team] in the field swiftly, making assessments to enable us to respond in an appropriate way. If we didn’t have MAF, for example and a disaster struck in the south, we would be a 10-15 hour road journey away and that road may or may not even be passable. With MAF we can get there quickly,”

Dave Mather, British Red Cross, Country Representative

“With MAF we can get there very quickly!” Disaster Recovery & Response Preparedness

MAF Response Preparedness 9

Left: A survey flight image taken shortly after Cyclone Mahasen. The Ministry of Disaster Management assessment team flew with MAF to better understand the extent and severity of of the flooding.

Above: Damage caused by Cyclone Sidr. In response to the need MAF flew three times a day, seven times a week, for the following three months to effected areas.

MAF has the privilege of support-ing the work of Friendship’s three floating hospitals in Bangladesh. For the char dwellers that live along the river, the only way they can receive medical treatment is through Friendship’s floating hospi-tals. Bringing international doctors, medical supplies, and personnel to Friendship’s remote floating hospitals is a perfect match for the service MAF provides with its am-phibious aircraft.

Bijli, the eldest of 5 siblings, received third degree burns after an unfastened oil lamp unex-pectedly fell on her. Her family swiftly brought her to the Friend-ship Floating Hospital in hopes of treatment. After intensive plastic surgery, she is recovering well. Her distressed mother was gladdened,“We are so fortunate to receive the gift of these pro-cedures, and are thankful to God for Friendship’s timely treatment of our daughter.”

Friendship Floating Hospital

Hospital Assistance Flights

Hannan, at age 10 began to de-velop a swelling in his neck which continued to grow and remained untreatable for the next 7 years. During this time he was unable to even eat and drink without intense difficulty. His hardship contin-ued until his family heard about Friendship’s Floating Hospital. Once he underwent surgery, his neck returned to a normal size. His whole family was surprised and deeply grateful for the unex-pected help they received.

In 2014 MAF provided

Would he have survived an ambulance ride of 12 hours?

No way!

Rafat, an eight year old boy, lay unconscious with a high fever. Due the seriousness of his illness, it des-perately necessitated evacuated by air. The Barisal district in the South of Bangladesh lies twelve hours by road from the nearest intensive medical care facilities, those required to treat his worsening encephalitis. Rune Karlsson brings the situation into perspective, “Ambulance flights are what I know how to do best! They only take about 30 minutes. But to get from Barisal to Dhaka, by car, in bad traffic, with unknown road conditions, it would take you at least

12 hours. There are just not many options. I ask you: would this boy have survived an ambulance ride for 12 hours? No way.” Fortunately MAF got the call and rapidly responded. Due to speedy ambulatory evacua-tion and subsequent treatment Rafat recovered.

Boy’s Life Saved Medical Capacities

A Helping Hand

Air Ambulance

10 Air Ambulance MAF MAF Hospital Assistance Flights 11

482medevac flight legs

466

19allocated to deliver international physicians, giving them access to health camps, accomplishing a total of ...

MAF has made available

1970 20141997 2000 2005 2010

Cyclone Bhola1970

T he first employee hired when MAF was first established is none other than Ashim. He

currently works as an Administrative Assistant, his flexibility is an asset. Over 17 years, he has accumulated the capacity to fit into many roles including: a driver, flight crew

With his 18 years of experience, positive attitude and willingness to pitch in as needed, Ashim is a valuable member of the MAF Team.

member, helper at the hangar, and field research team escort. When Ashim first started working for MAF Bangladesh, the program flew only several flights a month. Now he works hard to maintain its active flight schedule through his role in the office. This includes cleaning, managing

AshimLogistics Coordinator

the guesthouse and faxing flight requests to government offices to receive the required permission for each flight MAF takes. Ashim simply and correctly assesses the value of his work, “If there is no fax, then there is no flight.”

From the Start

AnnieOperations Administrator

Annie relates that the best part of working for MAF Bangladesh is using the platform of aviation

to support development initiatives, relay hope, help, and love to those most in need. She was hired first as a secretary in December 2002 and was subsequently promoted to Opera-tions Administrator in 2010 due to her dedication and hard work. As the office staff and flight opera-tions have grown over the years, she too has grown in her professional capacities. She shares about the role

she has played, “I am still growing in my understanding and responsibili-ties and am glad to work in such an office. It has been rewarding to build relationships with the passengers, frequent fliers, and the organizations that utilize MAF. Geography is my strong suit and I enjoy identifying new potential landing spots!” Annie’s official tasks include handling flight bookings and prepar-ing permissions to obtain clearance from the government offices for each flight. She also manages a

variety of office duties ranging from archiving documents to monitoring pilot license renewals. She even daily arranges the welcome information for visitors. Annie enjoys the team environment in the office, which she sees as her second family.

Booking a Flight?

National Staff Spotlight

Each flight requires 6 government office permissions, amounting to ...

1,302 faxes sent!

“If there is no fax … then there is no flight!”

14 National Staff Spotlight MAF MAF National Staff Spotlight 15

RajuFlight Crew Member

“MAF is a trusted partner for World Vision around the world, and makes a significant contribution to our mis-sion in many places where transport and access could be an obstacle to successful ministry. Our partnership with MAF in Bangladesh makes our work more efficient, enables staff to reach difficult locations in a more positive frame of mind, and enables us to focus on our activities while leaving those with gifts in the air transportation area to focus on their speciality. My journeys with MAF in Bangladesh played a great part in making a complicated itinerary a pleasure to achieve.”

Kevin Jenkins, World Vision President & CEO

“Remote management is one of the issues with which we have to contend with in Bangladesh. The infrastructure is poor and that means it is chal-lenging for us to get relief workers to where they are most needed. We know that with MAF, we can project relief workers very quickly into those remote corners to both manage and monitor the aid that we’re giving.”

Colum Wilson, DFID Bangladesh

For over the past 12 years, Friendship has partnered with MAF Bangladesh to regularly fly international doctors, supplies and staff to three floating hospitals, supporting a healthcare system that directly serves around 225 thousand people a month in the remotest areas of Bangladesh. “This support and this confi-dence that we can reach, it’s not an unreachable area, we can go, has triggered a synergy of activities and work, which is amazing. And certainly, the fact that we can go to remote areas, we can give these services to remote areas, the fact that we can actually reach these places in short times, comfortably, has made an enormous difference to the or-ganization.”

Runa Khan, Executive Director & founder

MAF provides individualized tailored flight service for organizations to quickly visit rural development projects in any town or village.

General Charter

Raju’s first glimpse into aviation came when he was 18 years old. He heard that a plane would

be coming to his small village, and this excited his curiosity. On the ap-pointed day he made sure he would be nearby to the aircraft landing area. He was fascinated and helped the co-pilot anchor the plane ashore. He watched the crew intently. Every time the aircraft returned, Raju dreamed of working with MAF, and hoped to offer his help to others in need. His chance came when he was able to share this hope with MAF’s Country Direc-tor. Who was in turn encouraged

by Raju’s eager readiness to work in aviation and his concern for giving back to his fellow countrymen. This began his 12 year career. Over this time with MAF Bangla-desh, Raju has grown in his capacities as a flight crew member and me-chanic. Now, he is the one throwing out the anchor to young men as they secure the plane to shore. Raju expresses his happiness at find-

ing fulfilment, “MAF is a wonderful organization…I really enjoy working here.” He sees how the MAF staff embody a united and giving attitude, and is gladdened to see it’s expres-sion in Bangladesh and throughout the world. Moreover, Raju considers himself fortunate for the opportuni-ties MAF gave him, to give back daily, helping people in need.

World Vision

DFID Bangladesh

Friendship

16 National Staff Spotlight MAF MAF General Charter 17

A Dream Realized

Monowar Chief Engineer

RanjitFinance Manager

Anwarul Operations Manager

Rune Pilot

PhilipHanger Gaurd

RanaDispatch

KuddusHanger Gaurd

SowkatHanger Gaurd

SohelDriver

AhsanAvionics Engineer

ManuelAccountant

TaponDispatch Supervisor

Alom Flight Coordinator

Seraj Quality Manager

the MAF Bangladesh

Team

Weekly Flights to Southern Bangladesh

For the past 7 years, MAF and UKAid have partnered to provide a southern shuttle flight service. Regular flights, flying three times weekly, as-

sist development and relief initiatives working in the remote southern region. For example NGO staff members can be dropped near a project site or be picked up and returned to Dhaka. Flight destinations vary in response to need. These services were integral to agencies responding to Cyclone Aila.

Responding to Need

Training

In addition to its flight services, MAF contributes to the develop-ment of general aviation in Bang-ladesh through special operations and engineering programs. MAF

works in cooperation with local avia-tion academies towards the develop-ment of aviation within Bangladesh.

  In August of 2014, three training ses-sions were held: an Introduction to the Bangladesh Quality Manuel, an Introduction to MAF Quality Manage-ment Systems, and an Introduction to the Bangladesh QSMS Database, MANTIS. Kevin Nicholas, MAF’s Qual-ity Manager Asia Specific conducted these trainings and relates: The staff gained knowledge especially regarding incorporation of safety procedures. The MANTIS method gives a focus to accessibility of information, encourages quality, and relates potential safety issues. The training sessions also showed the importance of communicating when accidents occur during work. If an accident happens, especially if there is an injury, staff will now be more ready and prepared to respond, document, and notify leadership.

Growth of Aviation

18 Weekly Flights & the Island Shuttle Flight MAF

MAF provides affordable, safe and secure flight serves to these Islands and chars to fulfill key aspects of your operations.

Island Shuttle Flight

During the last quarter of 2014 MAF inaugurated the Hatiya Island Shuttle Flight in response to the humanitari-an and development requirements of a population greater than two million living in the islands and Chars. MAF Bangladesh is expanding its Southern

New Service Provided

Do you have field operations

in the islandsDFID ‘Let’s Fix It’ Event

Dr. Anisul Islam MahmudChief Guest

“Bangladesh is a country with a bright future” and that through the “combined efforts” of the Government, donors and non-government actors, the country can realize its goal of achieving middle income status by 2021. Together with the British High Commission, the German Red Cross, and USAID, MAF seeks to contribute to poverty reduction efforts, giving access to humanitarian & development work in the most vulnerable areas of Bangladesh.

On the 10th of December, with the UK Government, MAF held a joint event called, “Let’s Fix It”. The main thrust of the speeches revolved around improving access to remote areas in order to accelerate poverty reduction and increase livelihood resilience. Overcoming access constraints to deliver relief, development support, and how to expand market coverage in remote areas were among the insightful topics. The Government of Bangladesh, NGOs, UN agencies, the Red Cross, and supporters all attended. The difficulties in accessing different remote areas, the poverty that exists in geographically excluded populations, and the importance of reaching all of the Bangladeshi poor-regardless of location-featured prominently. The question was also raised: How can we make progress towards fulfilling Bangladesh’s 2021 objectives?

MAF Training 19

Shuttle flight to fly to Hatiya Island, Bhola Island, Char Kukri Mukri, and Char Momtaj. The service is also operated in partnership with DFID to meet the challenge posed by aid agencies for secure and safe ac-cess to isolated areas.

BholaIsland

HatiyaIsland

Char Kukuri Mukri

Char Momtaj

MAF �ies for over 115 organizations which include governments, International NGOs and Local NGOs, Donor Agencies, UN Agencies, individuals (Bangladeshis on Medevacs) and others involved in development work.

For example, a few of these organizations are:

International NGOs

Local NGOs

Donor Agencies

MY

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miKvi

WODTrust

For example, a few of these users are:

International NGOs,

Local NGOs,

& Donor Agencies.

Flight Program Statistics

20 Flight Program Statistics MAF

217flights in 2014

NGO Development 138

Training 19

Economic Development 34

Medical 21

Air Ambulance 5

63%10%

2%

9%

16%

2014 by Month

Flights FlownLegs FlownHours Flown

Number of Passengers

Flight Statistics

Maintenance

529legs flown

355hours flown

1,962passengers flown

MAF Users 21

Flight UsersDo you use MAF?MAF flies for over 92 organizations which include governments, International NGOs and Local NGOs, Donor Agencies, UN Agencies, individuals (Bangladeshis on medevacs) and others involved in development work.

Maintenance

Netherlands

SLOPB RRMAIDPLGED-Danida

Sangram

22 Southern Flight Statistics MAF MAF Southern Flight Utilization 23

Program Approvals

MAF Bangladesh

2014 by Month

Flights FlownLegs FlownHours Flown

Number of Passengers

Southern Shuttle Statistics

Southern Flight Statistics

274

156

976passengers flown

96flights

legs flown

hours flown

organizations92

Gram Bangla Aviation Project

Who is Utilizing Our Southern Flights?

served in 2014

For example, a few of the organizations utilizing MAF:

Maintenance