About Flying Mission Services Botswana
Flying Mission (FM) began as the personal vision of Dr Malcolm McArthur OBE, FRCS. Through his work with the Scottish Livingstone Hospital, and later Princess Marina, he perceived the great advantage of air transport to service medical and mission work in rural areas of Botswana. In 1977 this vision became a reality and FM was formally constituted to provide a rapid link connecting major centres with distant and inaccessible areas, with the aim of bringing physical and spiritual help to people in need.
| Malcolm & Gudrun McArthurFlying Mission’s Founders |
Where We Are Now
From small beginnings, with just one part time pilot and an plane, the work has grown to a fleet of aircraft flying over half a million kilometres per year.
FM has continued to grow and change over the years and its work has expanded beyond aviation alone. Today it has four operational departments:
Flying Mission Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Training School (FM AMETS)
Provides:
- High Quality Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) Training …
- Life Skills and Character Development …
- Biblical values and standards …
- Development of well-rounded individuals …
- Emphasis on practical training …
… for Botswana, and the southern African region
Flying Mission Care Ministries (FMC)
Provides:
- Specialist Training …
- Life Skills Training …
- Discipleship Training …
- Resource Mobilisation …
- Networking …
… towards an empowered, healthy and poverty free Botswana.
Flying Mission Services (FMS)
Provides:
- Charter Flights …
- Air Ambulance Service …
- Aircraft Maintenance …
… based in Botswana and serving southern Africa through aviation excellence.
Flying Mission Zambia (FMZ)
Provides:
- Aviation support …
- Logistical services …
- Guest house …
… to churches, missions and development workers with aim of reaching the next generation with the good news of Jesus Christ.
Flying Mission Services is based in Botswana and provides flight and maintenance services throughout Southern Africa. The heart of FMS is to generate enough income through commercial operations to not only sustain its own ministry and operations but also to provide subsidised flights for missionaries and to support the broader ministries of Flying Mission. This new paradigm in mission aviation is an exciting step away from donor reliance and toward sustainability.
There are three primary ways that FMS generates these funds:
- Charter Flights – FMS offers on-demand charter flights from Gaborone and Maun to points throughout Southern Africa. Many of these flights are flown from our secondary base in Maun to safari camps in the Okavango Delta.
- Air Ambulance Service – FMS holds the exclusive contract with the Botswana Ministry of Health to provide emergency air ambulance service to hospitals throughout the country.
- Maintenance & Other Aviation Services – FMS operates a fully licensed aircraft repair facility and has recently opened an aircraft maintenance training program.
Delivering Change
in Botswana through:
- life saving air ambulance service
- financial support of other ministries
- personal ministry to clients, patients, and many others
While FMS is enthusiastic in its ability to support and enable other ministries, it unreservedly views its own work as ministry as well. The air ambulance service for the critically ill offers a hope of healing for those without other options. Fruits can be seen stemming from the lifestyle evangelism of FMS by its Christian presence and integrity in the business world. Opportunities for FMS staff to minister to local staff, clients, air ambulance patients, and many others present themselves daily. We at FMS are excited that through our ministry we are able to deliver change to other ministries as well as to the country of Botswana.