New Telegraph

Counter-insurgency: We’re training over 100 pilots nationwide – NAF

…wings 16 new flying officers, operators

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Wednesday, said over 100 pilots were undergoing flying training at various flying institutions across the country.

It said the training ranges from Basic Fighter Training, Basic Transport Training, Ab-Initio Flying Training, Initial and Basic Training and Helicopter Pilot Training.

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, made the disclosure at the winging ceremony for 16 new NAF pilots, as well as operators, in Abuja.

The NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, who made this known in a statement, noted that the development was part of the Service’s determination to “enhance and sustain critical airpower capabilities required for joint force employment in pursuit of national security imperatives”.

The spokesperson said: “The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao has charged newly winged pilots of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to be relentless in the pursuit of excellence and professionalism as operational pilots and operators, while working alongside their colleagues across other specialties in the Service.

“He also enjoined them to strive to imbibe the doctrine of jointness at the front lines as they synergize with personnel from sister Services and other security agencies in pursuit of national security imperatives.

“In highlighting the significance of the winging ceremony, the CAS noted that for the NAF to function efficiently, both as a highly technical Service and as a fighting force to be reckoned with, it must have the right mix of numerical strength and qualitative manpower in all relevant competencies.

“This, he said, informed the need to pursue training of NAF personnel both locally and overseas. Air Marshal Amao further stated that another set of 11 student pilots are currently undergoing training in South Africa, while three are undergoing Alpha Jet conversion in Egypt. In the same vein, 12 student pilots are undergoing Super Tucano training while four others are undergoing helicopter training in the United States of America.

“Locally too, over 100 pilots are currently undergoing various types of flying training ranging from Basic Fighter Training, Basic Transport Training, Ab-Initio Flying Training, Initial and Basic Training and Helicopter Pilot Training at various NAF flying training institutions nationwide,” he said.

The said training efforts, according to the CAS, are targeted at ensuring combat readiness at significantly higher levels to counter both domestic and foreign threats to the nation’s security and the wellbeing of all Nigerians.

Earlier, the Chief of Training and Operations, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) James Gwani, informed the audience that four of the new pilots recently completed their Military Style Basic Helicopter Pilot Training at the Draken Europe Helicopter Academy United Kingdom while the other 12 were trained locally at the 401 Flying Training School, Kaduna

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