The Nigerian Air Force has begun the in-country Periodic Depot Maintenance (PDM) of three Alpha Jet aircraft at the 407 Air Combat Training Group, 407 ACTG, Kainji.
A statement by NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, announced this in Abuja on Saturday.
According to him, the expectation is that the in-country PDM which began on Dec.19, would further boost aircraft availability for the conduct of air operations, as well as enhance the capacity of NAF engineers and technicians involved in the maintenance activity.
He also noted that the exercise would further improve the NAF’s self-reliance and prudent management of resources.
Daramola disclosed that with the support of the Federal Government, the NAF was also conducting in-country PDM of one of its C-130 aircraft, NAF 917, at the 631 Aircraft TV Maintenance Depot (631 ACMD).
“The PDM on NAF 917 has reached an advanced stage while the in-house life extension programme on another C-130H aircraft, NAF 913, was completed earlier this year.
“These have all contributed to raising the serviceability status of NAF operable aircraft from about 36 per cent in 2015 to its current levels of between 78 and 82 per cent,” he said.
He noted that the NAF recently recovered another Alpha Jet aircraft, NAF 476, from the United States of America.
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According to him, the aircraft, which was ferried into the country on Dec. 6, would soon be deployed for operations in the Northeast.
The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information revealed also that NAF was expecting the arrival of two new attack helicopters by March 2019 adding that the aircraft would be inducted into the service by President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2019.
“Furthermore, the NAF is expecting the delivery of the first batch of Agusta Westland 109 Power attack helicopters, comprising 2 units, ordered from Italy,” he said.
