NAF: How our engineers revived aircraft grounded for 23 years

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says its aircraft engineers and technicians have “in a phenomenal display of ingenuity” reactivated a Dornier DO-228 aircraft which had been grounded for 23 years.

The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, AVM Olusola Akinboyewa, made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.

Akinboyewa, who described the development as a remarkable feat, said the achievement underscored NAF’s growing capacity for indigenous maintenance to bolster its operational readiness while contributing to Nigeria’s inherent aviation capabilities.

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

He stated: “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 this project.

“The NAF took on the challenge of reactivating this aircraft, a Dash 201 Series with only 1,081 flight hours since new, considering the task a unique opportunity to restore a valuable national asset.

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“The reactivation process, for the grounded aircraft – re-designated ‘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 accomplishment, which requires the application of advanced engineering techniques and adherence to stringent aviation standards, attests to NAF’s growing technical expertise and resolute determination.

Akinboyewa said the success of the project carried 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 have been outsourced to foreign entities,” the NAF spokesman added.

Akinboyewa quoted the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, as commending the 431 Engr Group for their dedication and emphasising the broader import of the achievement.

Abubakar said the project was a reflection of NAF’s resolve to optimise resources, strengthen its fleet, and uphold national security through operational excellence.

The Star