Planes

This paper, a companion to Planes, Roads, Automobiles, opens with David Gurruwiwi’s account of what a funeral trip from Galiwin’ku to Mata Mata cost him, and covers the flying nurse to Mata Mata; Rev. Harold Shepherdson (Bäpa Sheppy), who cut airstrips so people could stay on country; Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), which took over his Elcho operation in 1973; who actually pays for MAF; Marthakal Air, the Galiwin’ku charter airline owned by the Marthakal homelands organisation; and what a fare means on a homeland income, including funeral travel. The main paper treats the vehicle gap; Roads treats the Central Arnhem Highway; Royalties treats what Gove mining money reached Aboriginal people. It closes with the bush pilot in Australian history, from Qantas and the Flying Doctor onward, and with the case for greater public accountability and understanding of Marthakal, including published annual reports by service and by funder. It also traces the bush pilot in Australian history and asks whether remote air services can be financially viable.

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