National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) is partnering the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to provide relevant guides in its plan to produce Made-in-Nigeria helicopters.
Besides, the agency charged with the responsibility of fast-tracking home-initiated industrialisation, has placed an order for a Dynali H3 easy flyer sport ultra-light helicopter for the purpose of reverse engineering.
Muhammed Sanni Haruna, executive vice-chairman/CEO of NASENI, spoke in Lagos Wednesday during a courtesy visit to the NCAA headquarters where the Mukhtar Usman, director-general of NCAA, received him
Haruna said in line with the agency’s mandate in Aviation and Aeronautics Technology, the agency reached out to potential partners and manufacturers of helicopters. He said Dynali Helicopter Manufacturer was found to be a willing partner, adding that the Dynali Helicopter was selected because its technology was easier to copy, learn, domesticate and modify.
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“They are willing to build the capacity of our staff for maintenance, repair, assembly and manufacturing of helicopters in Nigeria,” he said.
He assured that before the end of 2019, staff of the agency would have mastered the art of building the helicopters, adding that the agency had in the past produced unmanned aerial vehicle (drones).
He said, “Research and Development is not one or two – day affair but we have facilities for reverse engineering.
“In fact we have a centre which we call rapid prototyping centre. Any machine that you want to reproduce, we have facilities, advance manufacturing equipment for that matter on how to give us something fast but then aviation is a high safety and security industry that certain things, we must wait for certification from here (NCAA) before we proceed further.
“We are confident that through your support and that of other stakeholders, the made-in Nigeria Helicopter project will be a success.”
In line with NASENl’s mandate in Aviation and Aeronautics technology, Ministerial and Presidential directives to the Agency to develop made-in-Nigeria helicopters, the agency reached out to potential partners and manufacturers of helicopters and eventually found Dynali Helicopter Manufacturing Company of Belgium as a willing partner to fast-track technology acquisition and domestication.
The company is the manufacturer of a wide range and models of Dynali H3 easy flyer sport ultra-light helicopters. The company produces the simplest, easy to maintain and operate helicopters of high quality and of international standards.
He said Dynali Helicopter was selected because their technology is easier to copy, learn, domesticate and modify. They are willing to build the capacity of our staff for maintenance, repair, assembly, and manufacturing of helicopters in Nigeria.
“The helicopter has been produced, tested and ready for delivery to Nigeria. In order to take delivery of the aircraft, we have requested for a clearance to import the aircraft from the Ministry of Transportation through our supervising Ministry of Science and Technology). The NCAA is an important stakeholder in this effort and that is why we reached out to you for support and guidance,” he added.
On his part, Mukhtar Usman assured that the authority would partner the agency to provide guidance in line with global standard and recommended practices in aviation.
Usman said, “As you know aviation is highly regulated, it is international in nature and that is why the NASENI came today for us to partner and work to ensure that international standard and recommended practices are maintained because aviation is high precision industry, it involves safety and security.”
