Mission Aviation Fellowship, the world's largest Christian and humanitarian remote aviation service, may be headed back into the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after an absence of five years.

Tribal conflict and civil war caused MAF to pull out of the eastern DRC in 2002 because violence hit its base and affected its operations.

"We did have a large base, actually the largest base in Africa, in north-eastern Congo there," said David Jacobson, MAF program manager for eastern DRC. That base was attacked, and had been a very large flight program a few years ago."

The region is now stable enough for MAF to consider moving back into the region. In fact, one family has returned, he said. "There is progress, slow, but progress."

"The family has moved into one of the larger cities in the north-eastern part, very close to the Uganda border. We're hoping to base a second family there within a few months. And, through that, we hope to be able to start rebuilding our base that was destroyed," Jacobson said.

MAF has been flying into eastern Congo from Uganda daily since the base was destroyed, so its mission, humanitarian and medical work has continued, but from afar.

Missionary aviation is desperately needed in Congo, because roads are almost impassable.

"As an example, I talked to a missionary who drove a route that takes us one hour and five minutes to fly. He said it took him 10 days to drive with a big truck," Jacobson said. "With so many weapons in the hands of mobs and gangs, travelling on the roads can be dangerous, so air transportation is safer."

The base rebuilding effort will be a monumental task, Jacobson warned.

"At one point MAF had nine houses and two hangars. Every single house has been completely stripped to floors and bare walls. It's extremely daunting from a financial standpoint."

Jacobson said part of MAF's renewed mission is to help local believers reach out with the Gospel.

"It's really quite exciting to see how the Lord is raising up Christians that have a burden to reach their own people and other tribes. Air transportation can and will help those efforts," he said.

Picture above; MAF pilots Jon Cadd and Dave Rogers unload an engine in Bunia, DRC.