By Victor Akaa
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has achieved a significant engineering milestone with the successful completion of a 4800-hour Periodic Depot Maintenance (PDM) on a Dornier 228 (DO-228) aircraft.
This historic achievement marks the first time NAF engineers have undertaken such a complex maintenance task entirely in-country, demonstrating a newfound confidence in aircraft maintenance capabilities, the NAF Spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet disclosed in a statement on Monday.
The PDM, which was previously performed by foreign Maintenance Repair Organizations (MROs), was completed at a significantly cheaper rate and with reduced aircraft downtime. The Chief of Aircraft Engineering (CACE), Air Vice Marshal Pius Oahimire, commended the Unit Commander, Air Vice Marshal Olanrewaju Oyename, for his exceptional leadership and creating an enabling environment for engineers to thrive.
During a brief ceremony to honour the participating engineers, the Chief of Aircraft Engineering,Air Vice Marshal Pius Oahimire emphasized that the motivation for this feat was derived from the Chief of Air Staff’s (CAS) Command Philosophy, which prioritizes logistics support and strong maintenance culture. He encouraged engineers to continue striving for excellence, assuring that the NAF remains committed to providing necessary support and a conducive working environment.
The Air Officer Commanding the Air Training Command, Kaduna, Air Vice Marshal Nnamdi Ananaba, expressed delight at the achievement, stating that the vision for the 431 Engineering Group Kaduna is to become a Maintenance Repair Organization (MRO). The successful completion of the 4800-hours inspection indicates that this vision is achievable.
The inspection of the aircraft, designated NAF 031, began in May 2021 but faced delays due to challenges in acquiring necessary spare parts. Air Vice Marshal Oyename praised the determination, commitment, and expertise of the engineers and technicians who undertook the historic task.
The 4800-hours inspection was the highest level of maintenance carried out on the DO-228 aircraft, involving a five-phase process.
The successful completion of this inspection marks a new era of self-reliance and technical proficiency for the NAF, the statement noted
