NAF engineers reactivate DO-228 Aircraft grounded for 23 years

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reactivated a Dornier DO-228 aircraft that had been grounded for 23 years. Achieved by the NAF’s engineers and technicians, underscores the Service’s growing capacity for indigenous maintenance, operational readiness, and aviation self-reliance.

The announcement was made in a statement signed by Olusola Akinboyewa, Director of Public Relations and Information at NAF Headquarters, on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the reactivated aircraft, initially designated “5N-MPS,” was formerly operated by the defunct Ministry of Mines, Power, and Steel and had been grounded at the DANA facility in Kaduna since 2001.

“Following a Presidential Directive for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to transfer such grounded platforms to the NAF for evaluation and possible reactivation, the Air Force took up the challenge.

“Renamed “NAF-039,” the Dash 201 Series aircraft with just 1,081 flight hours since underwent an intensive reactivation process between June and September 2024.

“The project was executed by a team of five engineering officers and 40 technicians from the NAF 431 Engineering Group in Kaduna”, the statement reads.

Hasan Abubakar, Chief of the Air Staff,  commended the engineers for their dedication and technical prowess, describing the achievement as a testament to NAF’s commitment to self-reliance and resource optimisation.

“The successful reactivation of NAF-039 is not just an operational gain; it is a statement of our capabilities and our resolve to achieve self-reliance,” he stated.

The statement also noted that this milestone follows earlier achievements by the NAF, including the first in-country 4,800-hour inspection of another Dornier DO-228 aircraft in January 2024.

“Together, these accomplishments demonstrate NAF’s growing ability to handle complex maintenance tasks in-house, reducing reliance on foreign contractors and saving valuable resources.

“The reactivation of NAF-039 has far-reaching implications. Beyond strengthening NAF’s fleet and tactical airlift capabilities, it showcases the ingenuity and resilience of its engineers and technicians.

“It also serves as a morale booster, highlighting their ability to handle sophisticated projects previously outsourced”, Abubakar said.

He also stated that the newly reactivated aircraft will join the active fleet of Dornier DO-228s, a versatile platform used globally for various missions.

According to him, this achievement solidifies NAF’s position as a leader in indigenous aircraft maintenance and technical innovation within Africa’s aviation sector.