In 2003 and 2004, the Government of Madagascar contracted at least two companies to carry out seismic surveys throughout the so called "red" island. FUGRO was one of them, which had this australian registered Aero Commander sent over to Madagascar. This very aircraft was built in 1970 and was on the australian register for all it's life, before being withdrawn from use in 2008 and consequently broken up. See photo ID 326405 for another aircraft being used for seismic surveys in Madagascar at the same time.