Sambo excited as Air Force graduates helicopter pilots

The Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, has applauded the Nigerian Air Force, their training partners and Chief of Air Staff, for producing the first set of helicopter pilots in the country.

Sambo, who made the commendation Friday at the Air Force International Helicopter flying School, Enugu, said it was heartwarming to celebrate with the fresh pilots, who were selected through a rigorous process and found to be hardworking and highly disciplined.

He said, “This development is a monumental achievement that will stand the test of time and would go down in the history of the Nigerian Air Force. It is a clear testimony that the Nigerian Air Force is moving in the right and positive direction toward fulfilling one of its mandates of being a centre of excellence in aviation training, which is in line with Mr. President’s Transformation Agenda through promotion of indigenalised training and industrial advancement”.

Sambo congratulated the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu, the Chairman TRIAX Limited, Chief Prince Arthur Eze and others who ensured the successful conduct and completion of the pioneer training programme of the school and charged all concerned to sustain the tempo so that the School can favourably compete with other international schools around the world.

The VP eulogized the nation’s Air Force for recording another milestone in the Nigerian aviation industry by producing the first set of helicopter pilots to be trained in Nigeria and first in West Africa, to attain Commercial Pilot /Instruments Rating Standard.

While urging the pilots to work harder and be good ambassadors of the country, he said “there is no gainsaying the fact that the Nigerianerian Air Force, has given a good account of itself and justified the vision of its founding fathers as an important tool for nation building.

“The contribution of the Nigerian Air Force in National development cannot be overemphasized. However, to achieve this, we must appreciate the untiring support, dedication, loyalty and cooperation of the officers and Men of the Nigerian Air Force. I therefore urge all Officers and men to continue to demonstrate their unflinching loyalty to the nation.”

Earlier, the chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall A N Amosu, thanked  President Goodluck Jonathan and the Federal Government for support and ensuring that the school was finally established.

In his remark, the Rector of the School, Group Captain I. A Yahaya, commended the Federal Government for helping to establish the school. He said the International Helicopter Flying School which was carved out from 305 FTS and now the 305HG, Enugu, was first mooted during the tenure of former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall OO Petinrin in early 2010.

Yahaya also said that the School which was initially conceived to be purely military was subsequently made to secure the licenses and ratings of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), to make the Air Force personnel be integrated into the civil society after their disengagement.

He noted that the school has two ways of enrollment –  the Integrated Helicopter Pilot Course (IHPC) and Ad Hoc flying Course (AFC).  Out of the 42 students who started the ten months course  in January, 2012′ 36 graduated today.