A plane donated by an Isle of Man-based company is currently on a mercy mission to help people caught by the earthquake and tsunami in Sulawesi.

The Kodiak aircaft has been based in Borneo, operated by the christian charity Mission Aviation Fellowship, for about nine years and provides a link for remote communities that would otherwise be almost entirely cut off.

David Dorricott, whose company, AFD, donated the plane, said it could provide reconnaissance services as well as practical help for the people in Sulawesi, now facing further destruction from an erupting volcano.

’The plane has already carried communication equipment. One of the main problems after a natural disaster is that you wipe out the infrastructure so communication is difficult,’ he said.

’The plane also provides the means to survey a vast area so you can see where to direct the aid. Members of staff can be relocated quickly and it also provides a service to remote communities.’

He said the plane was specifically designed to cope well with the less-than-ideal conditions it faced. During a visit in 2013 to see it in operation, he said it flew a total of 22 missions over two days.

’It’s designed to take off and land on a very short runway and to cope with very bad, potholed surfaces,’ he said.

’You might find you have to check the landing strip for water buffalo or ask someone to chase a stray dog away before you can land or take off, so it’s quite interesting operating in those conditions,’ he said.

In normal circumsances, the aeroplane can carry eight people plus equipment, and has an underslung container for luggage. Alternatively, the seats can be removed so it can carry stretchers instead.

’We maintain a bond and an interest in the aircraft, of course and we get a regular report on what has been happening. Only recently, it had to help a woman who had complications in labour in a remote community and needed to go to hospital,’ he said.

But in its normal day job, it can end up transporting goods, or people or even small livestock.

’Sometimes it can be groceries or another time it might be diesel or a child’s tricycle,’ he added.

’We are talking about communities that in some instances can only be accessed by dug-out canoe.’

Currently based south east of Borneo, the plane visited Andreas airfield in 2009 when politicians, staff from AFD and members of the public had a chance to view and fly on it.

Since arriving in Indonesia, the Kodiak has carried out hundreds of flights in East Kalimantan, Borneo, providing a lifeline to many villages where overland travel is all but impossible, and saving many lives when accidents and medical emergencies have occurred.

ADF’s Alison Dorricott said: ’All our AFD staff team are delighted that their hard work and energy in donating this aircraft is now further providing help to those in such great need. It just goes to show how we on a small island in the Irish Sea can make a vital difference for others on islands so far away.’