The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, officially winged 12 newly trained combat pilots from the Basic Flying Course-20 at the 403 Flying Training School in Kano, News About Nigeria gathered.
The announcement came through a statement released on Thursday by the Director of Public Relations and Information at the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet.
During the winging ceremony, Air Marshal Abubakar conveyed a charge to the newly graduated pilots, emphasising the importance of justifying the efforts and resources invested in their training.
He urged them to contribute their utmost to sustaining the successes achieved in various theatres of operation within the country.
Abubakar highlighted the ongoing efforts of the NAF in conducting both independent and joint operations to counter criminal activities and shape the operational environment.
The addition of new and vibrant pilots is seen as vital to enhancing the energy and effectiveness of these operations.
The Chief of the Air Staff acknowledged that the NAF had been fortunate to benefit from the Federal Government’s commitment to providing necessary platforms and equipment in the fight against terrorism, insurgency, and other forms of criminality.
However, the acquisition of new platforms has brought challenges related to manpower, training, and operating costs.
He noted the anticipated arrival of new platforms, including the M-346, AH-1Z, A-109 Trekker, and the remaining T-129 ATAK helicopters.
To address the manpower gaps, Abubakar emphasised the need to sustain a three-year training plan starting from January 2024, contingent on the availability of funding.
The graduation of the Basic Flying Course-20 is regarded as a positive step in bridging the existing pilot deficiency gap.
The newly winged pilots were reminded by the Air Chief of the fluid and unpredictable security environment, with threats posed by terrorists in the North, an upsurge in banditry and kidnapping activities nationwide, and challenges in different regions.
The Air Chief concluded by encouraging the freshly trained pilots to be aware that their journey was far from over, stressing the importance of continually striving to elevate the NAF to greater heights.
The Air Officer Commanding Air Training Command, AVM Nnamdi Ananaba, echoed this sentiment, stating that the graduation represented the final phase of a series of training activities aimed at producing fully qualified pilots for the NAF.
