Yap Island, Micronesia-based non-governmental missionary organisation Pacific Mission Aviation (PMA) has received flight ops and planning support from Hong Kong-based Metrojet Limited, as PMA takes delivery of two King Air 200 aircraft from the US.

PMA previously operated twin-engine piston aircraft within the Micronesian islands, providing voluntary maritime rescue and aeromedical services. As it became impractical to continue operating the old piston-engine aircraft, PMA looked for options on the market and came across two King Air 200s in the US. After understanding the meaningful life-saving mission of PMA, Samaritan's Purse, a US evangelical Christian aid organisation and the original King Air owner, decided to sell the aircraft at the price of US$1 each to PMA, and offered training to its pilots and engineers. Knowing that the missionary organisation needed international flight operations support, Metrojet's captain Stewart Borg offered the services of Metrojet's flight dispatch team to PMA. Rockwell Collins sponsored a 30-day free flight operation software licence for PMA to fly the aircraft back to Yap.

“Metrojet and captain Stewart Borg impressed us with their connections and extensive experience with so many airports and ground handlers,” say Amos Collins, director of flight operations and captain Preston Huntting, project-in-charge at Pacific Mission Aviation. “People gladly move mountains for us because of the good relationship they have with the Metrojet team, and this is the mark of a company that has a good reputation in the region. We would like to thank all those involved for taking on such a worthy cause of assisting Pacific Mission Aviation with this new venture and believe that the positive impact on the lives of the Islands people will be seen for years to come. We count it a privilege to have worked alongside Metrojet in a small way to see this project through.”

Borg, lead captain at Metrojet, adds: “I am very pleased that we were able to offer our assistance and support to this meaningful organisation. Metrojet is the longest serving business jet operator in Hong Kong, and we are very grateful of the opportunity to give something back to society, to bring hope to those in need and to change lives.”