The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar has said, 170 Nigerian Air Force pilots are currently undergoing training overseas and locally to effectively man the dozens of various platforms acquired or being expected into the country.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar disclosed this at the induction ceremony of 2 brand new T-129 ATAK helicopters and a King Air 360i aircraft into the Order of Battle of the Nigerian Air Force at NAF Base, Makurdi, Benue State.
This, according to Air Chief is aside from the 543 technicians undergoing training both locally and overseas as well as the over 1200 personnel of other specialties undergoing various types of training within and outside the Country.
To ensure optimal employment of the T-129 ATAK combat helicopter in battle, a total of 36 personnel were programmed for training in 5 batches in Türkiye in different air and ground specialities. Out of this number, 4 pilots successfully underwent the Initial Qualification Training and Mission Qualification Training, thereby earning them mission qualification on the aircraft.
The Air Chief noted that 4 pilots also underwent Aircraft Type-rating, Instructor Pilot Upgrade as well as Maintenance Test-pilot Courses on the aircraft.
"As such, they would be able to conduct in-country training of many other Nigerian Air Force pilots. This approach will not only aid seamless operational conversion and tactical training of our combat pilots but will also conserve scarce foreign exchange that would have been expended to train other pilots overseas. he stressed
The Air Chief also noted that as for the King Air 360i aircraft, 4 pilots were programmed for the Captaincy Initial Pilot Training at Flight Safety International, Tampa Florida. Of this number, 2 have since completed the training and have returned while the others are due back by the end of November 2023.
Additionally, 4 pilots have been programmed for the Initial Simulator Training in February 2024 while 6 engineers are currently attending maintenance flight training at the same facility in Florida.
SpyeTV News reports that the induction of 2 brand new T-129 ATAK helicopters and a King Air 360i aircraft into the Order of Battle of the Nigerian Air Force bears glowing testimony of the Federal Government’s unwavering resolve to equip and energize the Nigerian Air Force, and indeed the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria, towards combating terrorism, armed banditry, oil theft and other threats to the Nation’s territorial integrity and the security of its people.
By Olayemi Esan SpyeTV News Copyright Reserved