Ten trainees of Student Pilot Course 41B have completed
their ab-initio pilot training at 301 Flying Training School (FTS), Kaduna. The
graduands, awarded certificates over the weekend, are now ready to proceed for
Basic Flying Training (BFT) on the fixed wing aircraft at 303 FTS Kano or
similar facilities abroad.
The graduating students were among the 25 original members
of Student Pilot Course 41 that was later divided into two batches of 12 and 13
students. Six members of the first batch of students, constituting Student
Pilot Course (SPC) 41A, were sent for rotary wing flying at the International
Helicopter Flying Training School, Enugu.
The remaining six, comprising 4 Nigerians and 2 Liberians,
continued their training in 301 FTS and completed the course in 2015.
Thereafter, the Nigerian officers proceeded to 303 FTS for BFT while their
Liberian counterparts are presently undergoing further training at the
International Aviation College, Ilorin.
The remaining 3 members of SPC 41B are currently in the
United States undergoing further training. In addition, 28 members of SPC 42
have commenced their flying training at home and abroad. There are 10 officers
each in United Kingdom and South Africa, and 8 at the International Aviation
College, Ilorin. The remaining 14 trainees are to take after the graduating
members of SPC 41B for their ab-initio flying training at the 301 FTS, Kaduna.
Meanwhile, the graduands have been advised not to rest on
their oars as they enter the next phase of their military flying training.
Speaking as Guest of Honour at the graduation ceremony, AVM Mukhtar Muhammed
(retired) gave the advice while addressing the graduating student pilots. “…you
must know that this is just the beginning of your journey…I enjoin you
therefore to sustain the same attitude of rugged determination as you continue
with the next phase of their military flying training”, said the former
Military Governor of Kaduna State.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar
added his voice to the call on the graduands not to rest on their laurels but
to strive for greater excellence as they move on to the next phase of their
flying training.
The Chief stated that the present NAF administration is
committed to building capacity and has continued to receive the necessary
backing from the Federal Government, one of which, he noted, is the provision
in the 2016 budget for the acquisition of 10 Super Mushshak Trainer aircraft
from Pakistan. The trainer aircraft, which are to be inducted into 301 FTS to
enhance the quality of ab-initio programme, has capacity for full spectrum of
military flying training.
In a related development, the graduation ceremony was used
to commission new set of projects on NAF Base, Kaduna as part of the ongoing
efforts towards uplifting and upgrading facilities on NAF Bases. The newly
commissioned projects include residential accommodations, road network and
recreational facilities, some of which were named after fallen heroes.
The objective of the ongoing massive infrastructural
development is to provide an enabling environment for personnel so that they
could put in their best and move the NAF forward to fulfil its assigned
constitutional roles and accomplish its mission in the most effective and
efficient way.
0 Comments