Nigerian Air Force International Helicopter Flying School, Enugu, graduated its pioneer pilots on Friday 19th September 2014. RAPHAEL EDE reports
Friday 19th September, 2014 will forever remain indelible mark in the Nigerian history as first set of commercial helicopter pilots trained in the country graduated from the Nigerian Air Force International Helicopter Flying School in Enugu state.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the 36 pilots, President Goodluck Jonathan said the graduation of pioneer helicopter pilots trained in the country would help to ensure safety, security and development of the aviation sector.
Represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, Jonathan said the achievement has not only helped to boost the capacity and capability of the Nigerian Air Force, (NAF), but that of the Nigerian Armed Forces as whole.
He said with commercial training of pilots in Nigeria the Oil and Gas industry which depend largely on expatriates in this regard would soon be over. According to him, it is a monumental achievement that will stand the test of time.
“This is a clear testimony that the Nigerian Air Force is moving in the right direction toward fulfilling its mandate as the centre of excellence which is in line with the transformation agenda of the Federal government. I charge you all to sustain the tempo so that this school will compete with other flying international schools.”
The Vice president, who was optimistic that this is just the beginning, said in the near future, the institution will not only train pilots but will maintain and manufacture aircraft. He urged the new pilots to work harder and be good ambassadors of the school and the country in general.
In his remarks, the Chief of Air Staff, (CAS), Air Marshal Adesola Amosun, commended the Federal Government for its support toward ensuring that the goals of the school were met.
Amosun said that the school, established in 2012, was aimed at encouraging Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel to have civil licences and ratings to enable them to reintegrate into the civil society when they disengaged from service.
Also the increasing need for helicopter pilots as a result of trends in modern warfare which have tended mostly towards military operations other than war that is low intensity conflicts and counter insurgency operations necessitated the idea of creating IHFS.
He pledged the commitment of the force in providing quality services to the aviation sector. Going memory lane, the CAS said that school was initially conceived to be a purely military school to cater for the NAF and friendly allied nations in the sub-region and beyond. However, “the need to encourage NAF personnel to have civil licenses and ratings to enable them reintegrate into civil society when they disengage from the service necessitated accreditation from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA”.
He said to achieve that in March 2010 the then 305 FTS under the command of Air Commodore AB Esuola (rtd) was tasked to provide a framework for the school, while the AETSL – a subsidiary company under the NAF Holdings Company was to search for credible civilian partner with whom to set up the school, which eventually in mid 2010 a memorandum of understanding was signed with TRIAX Airlines Limited.
Air Marshal Amosu said after the formation of AETSL-TRIAX Limited, the joint venture company which operates the school with the Chairman as Prince (Engr) Arthur Eze began negotiations with NCAA on the modalities for setting up the International Helicopter Flying School. However “with the approval of NCAA the school was formally setup in January 2012 and in 15th August, 2013 the school received the NCAA certification as an Approved Training Organization”.
The Chairman, Board of Directors of the school, Prince Arthur Eze, called on the students to distinguish themselves in order to encourage more entrants into the school.
He said Enugu State has become the best place to invest in Nigeria saying that credit for this would go to Governor Sullivan Chime who he said, has “completely transformed the State”.
He commended the federal government for its commitment to the project adding that its location in Enugu has helped to boost the city’s reputation in the development of indigenous capacity.
In his address, the Rector of the school, Group Captain Ismaila Yahaya disclosed that the school offered 11 different helicopter courses, which includes; “Integrated Helicopter Pilot Course (PPL/IR/CPL), Instrument Rating (Helicopter), PPL (Helicopter) Add On, CPL (Helicopter) Add On, Turbine Experience (Helicopter) and R-66 Helicopter Type – rating including Ad Hoc Flying Course”.
He said the graduates were sponsored by the Nigerian Air Force, the Navy, Police and the Yobe state government, while three were privately sponsored.
He said: “the school has trained the first set of students in 3 batches IHPC 1A/2012, IHPC 1B/2013 and IHPC 1C/N/2014. The first batch consisted initially of 30 students out of whom 14 are sponsored by the Nigerian Air Force, 10 by the Nigerian Police, 5 by Yobe State Government and one was privately sponsored. These students were trained to the commercial pilot license level with instrument and night ratings.”
“The second batch consisted initially of 6 students out of whom 3 are sponsored by the Nigerian Police and 3 are privately sponsored students. They were also trained to the commercial pilot license level with instrument and night ratings. While the third batch consists of 6 students from the Nigerian Navy who had their PPL training abroad and were enrolled to undertake Instrument/Night Ratings and commercial pilot licenses” he revealed.
Some of the graduating students who spoke to Blueprint said the training had prepared them for the challenges ahead in flight operations.
The new pilots include Lt. Patrick Onah, Abdulkarim Ibrahim, Ndah Ekerete and Odanwu Idenyi.
Highlights of the event were the inauguration of the NAF 305 Headquarters and presentation of certificates to the graduating students by Vice President, Namadi Sambo.
Dignitaries at the event include Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu State and his Deputy, Rev. Ifeanyi Nwoye, Chairman Senate Committee on Aviation, Chief Hope Uzodinma, former Governor of Old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, and former Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Umaru Dikko (rtd), among others.
