MAF opens new Gove hangar

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) has opened its new hangar at Gove airport.

The new facility is around 37 metres long, 26 metres wide and three times higher than the old hangar, which has been retained, creating more space to store aircraft and equipment.

“It’s been quite a journey,” said MAF International Asia Pacific director and vice president Bill Harding. “We had long delays during fund raising, massive cost increases due to the price of steel and fuel and all sorts of other setbacks from transport to termites.

“But finally it is finished, it is fantastic and we really can rejoice and give thanks. A number of people put in monumental efforts. Many sacrifices have been made. It has been an incredible and personally costly effort but something great has been achieved.”

MAF conducts maintenance on a number of aircraft at Gove, from where it operates a number of flights in support of remote Aboriginal communities in East Arnhem Land.