The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced the successful reactivation of a Dornier DO-228 aircraft, grounded for 23 years, by its engineering team.
The project, executed between June and September 2024 by five engineering officers and 40 technicians from the NAF 431 Engineering Group in Kaduna, highlights the Air Force’s growing expertise in indigenous aircraft maintenance.
According to Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, the aircraft, originally operated by the defunct Ministry of Mines, Power, and Steel, was grounded at a facility in Kaduna since 2001. Following a presidential directive to evaluate and restore grounded platforms, the NAF took on the challenge, leveraging advanced engineering techniques and adhering to stringent aviation standards.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, commended the team, describing the project as a testament to NAF’s commitment to self-reliance, operational excellence, and resource optimisation.
He noted the restored aircraft would strengthen the NAF’s tactical airlift capabilities and serve as a morale booster for its personnel.
This achievement builds on previous milestones, such as the first in-country 4,800-hour inspection of another DO-228 aircraft in early 2024.
It underscores the NAF’s resolve to enhance its fleet, ensure national security, and achieve technical autonomy while positioning itself as a leader in Africa’s aviation sector.
