NAF Deploy Night-capable Attack Helicopter to North-East
BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar on Wednesday announced the deployment of Nigerian Air Force newly inducted Bell 412 Helicopter to the Northeast as part of efforts to strengthen the military’s counter-terrorism campaign.
The newly inducted helicopter is one of the two (2) handed over to the NAF by the Federal Government earlier this year.
Having been in containers for about two years as at the time of the handover, the major systems of the two helicopters and the surveillance cameras had to be sent to the USA and Canada for overhaul and repairs to restore their airworthiness.
The helicopter’s major systems were later reassembled at the NAF’s 631 Aircraft Maintenance Depot (ACMD), Ikeja thereby providing an opportunity for the attachment of NAF engineers and technicians towards further building their technical capacities.
The second Bell 412 Helicopter is still undergoing reactivation at 631 ACMD and would be inducted into the NAF immediately after reactivation.
In his keynote address at the induction ceremony, the CAS stated that the new helicopter comes with a surveillance camera and has night capability, amongst other capabilities.
He also said that the NAF had already trained its pilots, engineers and technicians to operate and maintain the new helicopter, adding that adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure the availability of spares and Ground Support Equipment for the Bell 412 Helicopters.
The CAS thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for directing that the forfeited helicopters be transferred to the NAF, adding that it was an eloquent testimony of his commitment to the development of the NAF.
Air Marshal Abubakar charged the pilots and engineers to demonstrate competence, proficiency and professionalism as they operate and maintain the new helicopter.
He also thanked NAF’s technical partners with respect to the Bell 412 Helicopters, Messrs Africair, and expressed hope that the partnership would be worth the while.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Ibrahim Yahaya, commended all government agencies whose efforts facilitated the successful induction of the Bell Helicopter into the NAF.
A statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Ari Forfce, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya said that Air Marshal Abubakar later inspected the Machine Tools/Structure Workshop at 631 ACMD after which he directed the Unit Commander to immediately submit the requirements to make the workshop fully functional to enable the Service derive maximum benefits from it.
Adesanya further said that the climax of the induction ceremony was the fly-pass by the newly inducted Bell 412 Helicopter.
According to the Spokesman of the Air Force; “To the admiration of those present, Air Marshal Abubakar as well as the representatives of the Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff went aboard the helicopter and thus participated in the fly-pass.”
