- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigerian Air Force Engineers have recorded a remarkable feat as they revived an aircraft grounded for 23 years.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on the Force official X handle on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the aircraft engineers had teamed up with NAF technicians reactivate the Dornier DO-228 aircraft,
NAF held that the achievement underscored it growing capacity for indigenous maintenance to bolster its operational readiness, whilst contributing to Nigeria’s inherent aviation capabilities.
The aircraft now named NAF-039 was, according to the statement, originally designated “5N-MPS” and operated by the defunct Ministry of Mines, Power, and Steel.
It had been grounded at the DANA facility in Kaduna since 2001.
However, sequel to a Presidential Directive for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to transfer such grounded platforms to the NAF for evaluation and possible reactivation, the NAF initiated the project, reactivating the Dash 201 Series with only 1,081 flight hours since it’s purchase.
The aircraft’s reactivation was conducted between June and September 2024.
It involved meticulous planning and painstaking execution by a crack team of 5 engineering officers and 40 technicians from the NAF 431 Engineering Group (Engr Gp), Kaduna.
Reacting to the development, they Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, lauded the crew for their dedication, and emphasised the broader import of the achievement.
He noted that the project reflects NAF’s resolve to optimise resources, strengthen its fleet, and uphold national security through operational excellence.
“The successful reactivation of NAF 039 is not just an operational gain; it is a statement of our capabilities and our commitment to self-reliance,” he added.