New Seaplane at Mesa’s Falcon Field Set to Transform Healthcare for Remote Papua New Guinea Villages

MESA, Ariz. — Samaritan Aviation, a Mesa-based non-profit organization, has been instrumental in saving lives across remote regions of Papua New Guinea through its innovative use of seaplanes, affectionately dubbed “flying canoes.” This initiative is particularly significant in an area where access to medical care can be severely limited.

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 80% of the nearly 14 million inhabitants reside in isolated villages, often devoid of basic amenities like electricity and running water. Samaritan Aviation’s founder, Mark Palm, emphasizes the dire circumstances in which medical emergencies can become fatal due to geographical barriers. “You’re having a breached birth or you get bitten by a snake and you have eight hours to live but yet you’re three days away from the hospital – in a canoe,” he explained.

This critical need is precisely what Samaritan Aviation aims to address. With a team available seven days a week, they transform what could take three days into a one-hour flight — all at no cost to patients. Villagers, sometimes undertaking extraordinary efforts to contact the organization, highlight their desperation for timely assistance.

Since launching its operations 15 years ago, Samaritan Aviation has delivered over 300,000 pounds of medical supplies and saved thousands of lives. Funding emanates primarily from U.S. foundations and churches, covering about 80% of operational costs, while the rest is supplemented by the Papua New Guinean government.

Recently, a new seaplane arrived at Mesa’s Falcon Field, part of an effort to raise funds and awareness for Samaritan Aviation. Following a nationwide tour, the seaplane will be shipped to Papua New Guinea, where it will enhance operations in the southern region of the country. Palm detailed the logistical effort involved in transporting the aircraft, noting the necessity to disassemble it for shipping.

Samaritan Aviation is currently engaged in a $3.4 million capital campaign aimed at acquiring upgraded avionics, funding transportation, and constructing essential infrastructure such as staff housing and a hangar. These improvements are integral to the organization’s mission, particularly considering the challenging conditions in the regions they serve.

This week, the organization is promoting its initiatives through screenings of their new film “Saman Balus,” or “flying canoe.” Free screenings will take place in Flagstaff and Prescott Valley, with additional showings scheduled for March 25 at Fat Cats theater in north Mesa.

Reflecting on the motivation behind this undertaking, Palm commented, “It’s really a story of people in America seeing a need. Hearing about people that they’ll probably never meet but caring enough to give so that we can go save lives.”