PICTORIAL: NAF Engineers Reactivate Aircraft Grounded for 23 Years
In a remarkable feat, engineers and technicians from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) successfully reactivated a Dornier DO-228 aircraft, which had been grounded for 23 years.
The aircraft, originally known as ‘5N-MPS,’ had been grounded since 2001 at the DANA facility in Kaduna. Once operated by the defunct Ministry of Mines, Power, and Steel, the aircraft is now designated ‘NAF-039.’
According to the NAF spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, this reactivation underscores the growing capacity of the NAF for indigenous maintenance, strengthening its operational readiness, and contributing to Nigeria’s aviation capabilities.
The aircraft reactivation process began after a presidential directive to transfer grounded platforms to the NAF for evaluation. The NAF undertook the project between June and September 2024, employing a team of five engineering officers and 40 technicians from the NAF 431 Engineering Group. The complex task required advanced engineering techniques and strict adherence to aviation standards.
AVM Akinboyewa emphasized that this success is not only a significant operational achievement but also a demonstration of NAF’s resolve to achieve self-reliance in aviation maintenance. The accomplishment boosts the morale of the engineers and technicians, showcasing their ability to handle complex projects that would otherwise require outsourcing to foreign entities.
Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, the Chief of the Air Staff, commended the NAF 431 Engineering Group for their dedication. He noted that the reactivation of the Dornier DO-228 demonstrates the NAF’s commitment to optimizing resources, strengthening its fleet, and upholding national security.
The successful reactivation also builds on previous accomplishments, such as the completion of the first in-country 4,800-hour inspection on a DO-228 aircraft in January 2024, underscoring NAF’s capacity for advanced in-house aircraft maintenance.
This achievement strengthens the NAF’s tactical airlift capabilities, with the reactivated Dornier DO-228 joining the fleet of aircraft still actively used worldwide.
The accomplishment also reaffirms the NAF’s commitment to resource optimization, self-reliance, and operational excellence, positioning it as a key player in Africa’s aviation sector.
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