Samaritan 206 drops in at Business Jet Center

The Business Jet Center FBO at Love Field in Dallas had an unusual visitor on November 12, a Cessna 206 on a nationwide tour before traveling to Papua New Guinea for medical relief operations. The float-equipped refurbished 1977 Cessna belongs to Samaritan Aviation and is named the Spirit of Paradise. Mark Palm, vice president and director of aviation for Samaritan Aviation and an A&P mechanic, will travel to Papua New Guinea and stay for three years to help establish the new medical airlift service and train support staff. According to Samaritan, there are currently no float-equipped aircraft in Papua New Guinea and villagers often have to walk 14 days to reach the only hospital. The Spirit of Paradise will serve the north coast of Papua New Guinea and the Sepik River area.