PICTORIAL: NAF Engineers Reactivate Aircraft Grounded For 23 Years

Aircraft engineers and technicians of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have reactivated a Dornier DO-228 aircraft, which was grounded for 23 years.

A statement by the NAF spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, announcing the feat, underscored NAF’s growing capacity for indigenous maintenance to bolster its operational readiness, whilst contributing to Nigeria’s inherent aviation capabilities.

The aircraft, originally designated ‘5N-MPS’ and operated by the now defunct Ministry of Mines, Power, and Steel, was grounded at the DANA facility in Kaduna since 2001.

He said following a presidential directive for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to transfer such grounded platforms to the NAF for evaluation and possible reactivation, the NAF initiated the project.

AVM Akinboyewa said the NAF took on the challenge to reactivate the aircraft, a Dash 201 Series with only history of 1,081 flight hours, considering the task a unique opportunity to restore a valuable national asset.

He said the reactivation process of the grounded aircraft, now redesignated ‘NAF-039’, was conducted between June and September 2024, involving meticulous planning and painstaking execution by a crack team of five engineering officers and 40 technicians from the NAF 431 Engineering Group (Engr Gp), Kaduna.

According to him, the task required the application of advanced engineering techniques and adherence to stringent aviation standards.

“The success of this project carries significant strategic implications, bearing in mind that, beyond enhancing the NAF’s fleet, it symbolises the Service’s resolve to achieve self-reliance in aviation maintenance for operational effectiveness. It also serves as a morale booster for the NAF engineers and technicians, showcasing their ability to undertake complex projects which otherwise would be outsourced to foreign entities,” he added.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, commended the 431 Engineering Group for their dedication, and emphasised the broader import of the achievement.

The CAS started that the project reflected NAF’s resolve to optimise resources, strengthen its fleet, and uphold national security through operational excellence.

The CAS was quoted as saying: “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.”

According to the statement, the accomplishment builds upon the NAF’s earlier successes, such as the conduct of the first in-country 4,800-hour inspection on another DO-228 aircraft in January 2024.

“Together, these milestones highlight the NAF’s growing capacity for advanced in-house aircraft maintenance, and serve as a foundation for future projects aimed at achieving technical autonomy.

“The reactivation of NAF-039 after 23 years is more than an engineering achievement; it showcases the NAF’s ingenuity, resilience, and commitment to operational excellence.

“It also reaffirms the Air Force’s vital role in safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity, while highlighting its dedication to resource optimisation and self-reliance,” he stated.

AVM Akinboyewa said the newly reactivated aircraft will bolster the NAF’s tactical airlift capabilities by joining the fleet of DO 228 aircraft, a platform still actively used worldwide.

“This achievement 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,” the Airforce spokesman added.