By Victor Akaa.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) engineers and technicians have displayed an incredible engineering ingenuity by reactivating a Dornier DO-228 aircraft that had been grounded for 23 years.
Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, Director Public Relations and Information NAF, disclosed this in a statement noted that the deal is a huge one, not just because of the aircraft’s age, but also because it showcases the NAF’s growing capacity for indigenous maintenance and its commitment to self-reliance.
According to the statement, the aircraft, which was originally operated by the then Ministry of Mines, Power, and Steel, had been sitting idle at the DANA facility in Kaduna since 2001.
He said following the Presidential directive, the NAF took on the challenge of reactivating it, and the result is a testament to their exceptional expertise.
He confirmed that the reactivation process was no easy task, involving meticulous planning and execution by a team of 5 engineering officers and 40 technicians from the NAF 431 Engineering Group.
They had to apply advanced engineering techniques and adhere to stringent aviation standards to get the job done, noting that the outcome was not just an operational gain, but also a statement of the NAF’s capabilities and commitment to self-reliance.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, praised the team for their dedication and emphasized the significance of the achievement.
Enugu Reporters reports that this accomplishment is a big deal for several reasons.
Firstly, it enhances the NAF’s fleet and strengthens its operational readiness.
Secondly, it showcases the NAF’s growing technical expertise and its ability to undertake complex projects that would otherwise be outsourced to foreign entities, and thirdly, it reaffirms the Air Force’s vital role in safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity and its dedication to resource optimization and self-reliance.
The reactivated aircraft will now join the fleet of DO 228 aircraft, which is still actively used worldwide.
The feat according to the statement, solidifies the NAF’s position as a formidable player in Africa’s aviation sector, with the potential to lead in indigenous maintenance and technical innovation.
