The federal government is to buy 20 aircraft to equip Nigeria College
of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria and make it a centre of excellence.
Minister of State for Aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika, confirmed in Abuja,
yesterday, that NCAT had also taken delivery of a brand new Diamond
DA24NG for training of its students, and plans to acquire additional 19
trainer aircrafts.
Speaking at the occasion of taking delivery of the aircraft in NCAT,
Zaria, the Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Serika said the
purchase of the aircraft for training came because the existing ones are
very expensive to maintain.
He also pledged to assist the College in its plan to purchase a total
of 20 trainer aircraft to face off the existing 29 outdated ones.
Speaking at the occasion, the Rector, NCAT, Abdulsalam Mohammed said,
“Today, we are taking delivery of one Diamond Aircraft DA42NG from
Interjet Nigeria Limited, the representatives of Diamond Aircraft
Industries, Austria. For us in NCAT, this is a very momentous day. We
count this a great achievement.
‘‘We pride ourselves as an aviation training centre of excellence.
NCAT is among the very few aviation training colleges in the world (and
only in Africa) that conducts comprehensive aviation training by having
all the core aviation professional fields on single campus,’’ he said.
Speaking further, he noted that “there are currently 29 trainer
aircraft in the college and these aircraft used for training TB9,
Trinidad TB20GT and Beech Baron 58 are old, the earliest being purchased
15 years ago and quite expensive to fuel and maintain.
“NCAT is acquiring a total of 20 of these aircraft, five -engine DA42
and 15 single-engine D4-40 trainers. Today, we are taking delivery of
the first DA 42 multi-engine aircraft.
“These new trainer aircraft would significantly improve out flight
training experience. And from the angle of cost efficiency, our analysis
shows they will significantly reduce our operating cost, especially in
the area of maintenance and fuelling. They are also equipped with glass
cockpit and garmin 1000, which will make it easier for our graduating
pilots to transition to new generation commercial aircraft.”
Also speaking, the representative of Interjet, Seun Peters urged the
federal government to support NCAT in funding of the remaining 19
aircraft and noted that Interjet and Diamond plan to build standard
maintenance center in Abuja.
Meanwhile, after successful rehabilitation work on the runway of the
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the Minister of State for
Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has identified the concession of the
Murtala Mohammed International Airport and three others, as the next big
project.
Senator Sirika, disclosed this in a media forum in Benue state,
during the induction of mi-35m gunships by President Muhammadu Buhari,
following a partnership agreement between the Ministry of Aviation and
the Nigerian Air force on airport security, research and training
programmes.
The minister urged Nigerians to trust the Federal Government in
protecting their interest, as was the case with the Abuja Airport runway
project.
He also stressed that four airports including: Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt and Kano, are not up for sale but concession.
He made the known few days after domestic flights resumed operations
at the Abuja Airport, following the re-opening of the runway to traffic.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the aviation industry have applauded the
Federal Government for the timely completion of the airport runway.
Airlines, passengers, cargo handlers, cab operators have also
expressed delight over the way and manner government handled the Abuja
airport rehabilitation without delays.
