The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) pilots have logged 10,000 flight hours on the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft fleet.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar who was in Kainji to celebrate the milestone, stated that the feat represented the culmination of years of dedication, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to NAF’s mission of “ensuring the integrity of the airspace by gaining and maintaining control of the air while retaining a credible capacity to fulfil other airpower tasks demanded by National defence and security imperatives”.
Abubakar, in a statement by NAF spokesman AVM Edward Gabkwet, said, “Reaching 10,000 flight hours is no small feat as it symbolises the countless hours of training, meticulous planning, and flawless execution that have gone into every mission we have undertaken.”
The CAS also stated that the feat represented the exceptional skills, professionalism, and resilience of NAF’s brave men and women who have served and are currently serving.
He expressed delight that the milestone was achieved without any significant incident on the aircraft, which he attributed to the high premium the NAF places on safety.
He said, “Invariably, strict adherence to safety measures implemented enable us to achieve the desired results.“
The CAS paid tribute to NAF’s fallen heroes, noting that the milestone reminded them of their sacrifices, courage and commitment, which have continued to ‘inspire us all and remind us of the importance of our mission.’
Speaking on the dynamic security environment, he reminded the pilots to focus on the challenges ahead.
“The world continues to change, and new threats emerge every day. Our commitment to excellence must remain steadfast, and we must continue to adapt, innovate, and evolve to stay ahead of our adversaries,“ he said
He restated the NAF’s efforts in the various internal security operations across the nation, which have been critical to decimating terrorists and other criminals as well as supporting ground offensives by its troops.
He praised the unit commander and crew for their tireless efforts at ensuring the accomplishment of all missions in support of NAF’s mandate. Further, he reminded them of the need to be focused and united in their purpose and resolute in their determination to protect the Nation and its interests.
The Air Chief expressed gratitude and appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering support, which has helped the NAF achieve the 10,000-hour milestone and many other feats recently.
Earlier, the Air Officer Commanding Air Training Command, Air Vice Marshal Nnamdi Ananaba, said that the 10,000 flying hours logged translated to an average of approximately 9 hours of daily flying time (or 270 hours monthly) for the past three years with no break.
He attributed the feat to the countless hours spent in training, the sacrifices made by the brave combat pilots, and the ground crew‘s unwavering support. He added that the 10,000 flying hours logged by the pilots in just three years and without any mishap was a remarkable milestone worthy of celebration even in the most advanced air forces in the world.
The statement said, „Since its induction in August 2021, the A-29 Super Tucano fleet has been involved in several decisive missions in the various operational theatres across the country. So far, over 8500 hours flown on the fleet were dedicated to both day and night operational sorties against terrorists, bandits and other violent non-state actors threatening national peace.
No doubt, the aircraft’s night and precision munitions delivery capability has undoubtedly enhanced NAF’s versatility, flexibility and lethality in all air operations,“.
