Nigerian Air Force Completes 4800-Hour Maintenance on Aircraft

For the first time, engineers from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have successfully conducted a 4800-hour Periodic Depot Maintenance (PDM) on a Dornier-228 (DO-228) aircraft. This extensive maintenance, previously outsourced to foreign Maintenance Repair Organizations (MROs), was completed domestically at a lower cost and with reduced downtime.

At a ceremony honoring the engineers involved in the PDM, Chief of Aircraft Engineering (CACE) Air Vice Marshal Pius Oahimire highlighted the significance of this achievement. He emphasized that completing the PDM in-country marks a major milestone in capacity building and reflects a new level of confidence in NAF’s aircraft maintenance capabilities.

According to a statement by Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information for the Nigerian Air Force, the Chief of Aircraft Engineering praised the exceptional leadership of Unit Commander Air Vice Marshal Olanrewaju Oyename, whose support enabled the engineers to excel.

Air Vice Marshal Nnamdi Ananaba, Air Officer Commanding the Air Training Command in Kaduna, stated that the vision for the 431 Engineering Group is to become a full-fledged MRO. The successful completion of the 4800-hour inspection signifies that this vision is within reach.

Air Vice Marshal Oyename noted that the inspection of the aircraft, designated NAF 031, began in May 2021 but encountered delays due to difficulties in sourcing necessary spare parts.

Wing Commander Michael Aransiola, Commanding Officer of the 30 Engineering Wing, explained that the 4800-hour inspection represents the highest level of maintenance performed on the DO-228 aircraft.

This successful PDM completion heralds a new era of self-reliance and technical proficiency for the Nigerian Air Force.

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