NAF Engineers Revive Aircraft Grounded For 23 Years
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has successfully reactivated a Dornier DO-228 aircraft that had been grounded for 23 years.
The aircraft, formerly operated by the defunct Ministry of Mines, Power, and Steel, had been inactive at a Kaduna facility since 2001.
Following a Presidential directive to evaluate and restore such grounded assets, a team of five engineering officers and 40 technicians from the NAF 431 Engineering Group embarked on the project.
After months of meticulous work between June and September 2024, the team transformed the once-dormant aircraft, redesignated as “NAF-039,” into a fully operational asset.
Reacting to this, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, praised the engineers for their dedication, calling the achievement a testament to NAF’s growing technical expertise and commitment to self-reliance.
This milestone not only bolsters NAF’s fleet but also reinforces Nigeria’s position as a leader in indigenous aviation maintenance on the continent.
The reactivated aircraft is expected to enhance tactical airlift operations and reflects NAF’s broader vision of operational excellence, resource optimisation, and national security.
