Engineers and technicians of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have successfully reactivated a Dornier DO-228 aircraft, which had been grounded for 23 years.
The NAF spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, announced the achievement in a statement, highlighting it as a testament to the Air Force’s growing capacity for indigenous maintenance, operational readiness, and contributions to Nigeria’s aviation capabilities.
The aircraft, originally designated as ‘5N-MPS,’ was previously operated by the now-defunct Ministry of Mines, Power, and Steel and had been grounded at the DANA facility in Kaduna since 2001. Following a presidential directive for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to transfer grounded platforms to the NAF for evaluation and possible reactivation, the project was initiated.
According to AVM Akinboyewa, the NAF saw the reactivation of the Dash 201 Series aircraft, which had logged only 1,081 flight hours, as an opportunity to restore a valuable national asset. The process, conducted between June and September 2024, involved a team of five engineering officers and 40 technicians from the NAF’s 431 Engineering Group in Kaduna.
The reactivation required advanced engineering techniques and adherence to stringent aviation standards. The aircraft has since been redesignated as ‘NAF-039.’
AVM Akinboyewa noted, “The success of this project carries significant strategic implications. Beyond enhancing the NAF’s fleet, it symbolises the Service’s resolve to achieve self-reliance in aviation maintenance, while serving as a morale booster for NAF engineers and technicians. It showcases their ability to handle complex projects that might otherwise be outsourced to foreign entities.”
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, commended the 431 Engineering Group for their dedication and emphasised the broader significance of the achievement.
Air Marshal Abubakar remarked, “The successful reactivation of NAF-039 is not just an operational gain; it is a statement of our capabilities and our commitment to self-reliance. This achievement reflects our resolve to optimise resources, enhance fleet strength, and uphold national security through operational excellence.”
The reactivation builds on previous milestones, such as the first in-country 4,800-hour inspection of another DO-228 aircraft in January 2024. These accomplishments underscore the NAF’s capacity for advanced in-house aircraft maintenance and lay the groundwork for future projects aimed at achieving technical autonomy.
The newly reactivated NAF-039 will bolster the Air Force’s tactical airlift capabilities, joining a fleet of DO-228 aircraft still in active service worldwide.
“This achievement reaffirms the NAF’s vital role in safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity and solidifies its position as a leader in indigenous aviation maintenance and innovation in Africa,” AVM Akinboyewa concluded.
