The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has graduated the first set of 18 student pilots trained with the recently acquired Super Mushshak aircraft. Besides, another set of 26 student pilots was inaugurated during the ceremony, which took place at 401 Flying Training School, NAF Base, Kaduna, NAF spokesperson, Olatokunbo Adesanya said in a statement.
He said: “The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations at Headquarters NAF, Air Vice Marshal Nurudeen Balogun, stated that the graduation of Student Pilot Course (SPC) 43 and the inauguration of SPC 45 are indications of the premium placed on the realization of the CAS Vision’s cardinal driver, which is human capacity development. “The CAS stated that the event was epochal because the graduating officers were the first set to be trained on the new aircraft.
According to him, the design of the aircraft and its modern digital glass cockpit configuration makes it a choice for quality ab-initio training of military aviators. “He further disclosed that the training was completed less than one year after the aircraft was inducted into service, an indication that the investment of tax payers money on the acquisition of the Super Mushshak aircraft was already yielding dividend. “Air Marshal Abubakar revealed that the student pilots would undergo further training on high performance aircraft so that the NAF would have more pilots to deploy to various theatres of operation. He reiterated the commitment of the current NAF leadership to continue supporting and encouraging flying training schools in producing pilots for the NAF.
“The CAS congratulated the students for their resilience and discipline during the course and urged them to sustain same attributes as they continue the next phase of their military flying training.” He said the Commander of 401 Flying Training School, Group Captain Yusuf Dari, said in his address that the School had, since inception, trained over 800 pilots for the NAF, Nigerian Navy and other sister African countries starting with SPC 1, adding that notable among them are the present CAS and Chief of Naval Staff .
He said:” From its inception, the School had used many trainer aircraft types for the training of pilots. However, the configuration of the Super Mushshak aircraft would enhance transition to higher performance aircraft as well as lay good foundation for pilots that would be typerated on fighter aircraft. “The course started with a 12 week ground academic phase to prepare the students for the flying phase. During the ensuing flying phase, the students were taught aerobatics, among others, to introduce them to extreme altitudes and develop their skills to retain the control of the aircraft under all conditions. One of the graduating student pilots was a female officer.
The highlight of the occasion was the presentation of awards to Flying Officer AM Alkali, who carted away all the available awards namely Best in Academics, Best in Flying and Best All Round.”
Provides welfare facilities for response group The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has inaugurated some newly executed projects at the 209 Quick Response Group (QRG) Ipetu Ijesha, aimed at addressing the welfare needs of the Unit’s personnel and their families. NAF spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya said in a statement that the projects inaugurated include a block of transit accommodation of 10 studio fl ats and 2 blocks of additional classrooms at the Air Force Primary School Ipetu Ijesha “for the benefi t of dependants of NAF personnel and members of the host community.”
He said Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who was represented by Senator Mudasiru Hussein at the occasion commended the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, “for his tremendous contributions to national development.” He said: “The Governor also eulogized the virtues of the NAF leadership for its commitment to providing new facilities and upgrading existing ones across NAF Commands and Units.
“In addition, Ogbeni Aregbesola was full of appreciation to the CAS for the establishment of 209 QRG in Ipetu Ijesha, noting that the Unit had contributed significantly to security in the State and in the entire Southwestern region. “He pledged the continuous commitment Cross section of the first set of 18 student pilots trained with the acquired Super Mushshak aircraft recently Photo: DOPR of the State Government to all the security outfits in the State of Osun.” Adesanya said the CAS, had earlier in his speech disclosed that “the evolving security environment necessitated the expansion of the NAF to better provide swift and adequate responses whenever required.”
“According to him, 209 QRG in particular was established under the Special Operations Command (SOC) to provide prompt response to any emerging security challenges in the Southwestern part of Nigeria,” he said. “The CAS explained that the NAF provided the new facilities to ensure that the morale and state of readiness of personnel remain high to promote effective service delivery. “He further stated that the newly commissioned facilities have been deliberately made available for the benefit of Ipeju Ijesha residents, as a way of enhancing civil military relations.
“He expressed appreciation to the Government of the State of Osun for providing the NAF with sufficient land to build the Base and develop the training areas for shooting range, jungle warfare and survival training.” Adesanya said the 209 QRG, which began operations in December 2016, was “positioned to conduct a wide spectrum of special operations as demanded by the exigencies of the situation across the Southwestern region.” “The location of the Unit in Ipetu Ijesha is to ensure centrality within the assigned areas of responsibility and to provide a conducive environment for training and preparation for any contingency,” he said.
Troops kill 18 armed bandits in Adamawa, Zamfara
Nigerian Army troops conducting clearance operation in Numan general area of Adamawa State have neutralized 10 armed bandits following an encounter. Army spokesperson, Brig Gen Texas Chukwu said the operation lasted for an hour. “Items recovered include: 18 motorcycles, two dane guns, one Sub Machine Gun, one double barrel, four cartridges, 13 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition NATO special, and one cutlass,” he said. Chukwu also sais one of the bandits, Adamu Umar, was captured during the operation. “Preliminary investigation is ongoing meanwhile, the suspect and the remains of the 10 bandits neutralized have been handed over to the Nigeria Police,” he said.
Similarly, troops of one Brigade Nigerian Army have killed eight armed bandits during an exchange of gunfire in Maru Local Government area of Zanfara state. Spokesperson of the Brigade, Maj. Clement Abiade said army was conducting carrying a clearance operations in the state nicknamed “Operation Idon Raini.” According to him, the troops encountered the bandits in the bushes spanning through Dansadau, Kabaro and Sangeko villages, all in Maru local government area of the .
He said: “Apart from those killed, many of the other bandits escaped with various degrees of bullet wounds and may now be seeking medical help. “We are therefore pleading with members of the public to give us any useful information that will lead to the arrest of the escapees and all other criminals that carry unprovoked attacks on innocent citizens.” Abiade also said that five motorcycles as well as five rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition belonging to the fleeing bandits were recovered by the troops on Wednesday. (NAN)
