July 31, 2017 will see the conclusion of Air Serv’s four-year program in Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, which began July 2013 and operated a Cessna Caravan in support of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).
But closing the program doesn’t mean it was a failure — rather it was a success, according to officials.
The program’s closure is warranted by the combined efforts of Air Serv and MSF, which have resulted in the reduction of chronic health issues in the area requiring immediate attention.
“In most industries, the closure of a program is considered negative,” said Stu Willcuts, Air Serv CEO, “but in the humanitarian sector, it’s regarded as a success. We specialize in humanitarian aid and when our services are no longer needed to address an immediate or long-term crisis, we have done our jobs.”
In anticipation of the closure of the Bunia base closure, MSF teams are assessing a relocation to another area. A decision will be made after evaluating where medical services are most needed.
Air Serv continues serving other MSF programs in DRC, as well as other countries, while also working to position aircraft in Somalia and South Sudan to assist the NGO community in current famine response efforts.
With a fleet of seven Cessna Caravans, Air Serv specializes in “last mile” air transportation in support of humanitarian programs.
Air Serv also provides commercial air charter, facilities, aircraft maintenance, and consultation services.