By Gift Samuel, The Sight News
The ongoing reactivation of the Do-228 aircraft recently handed over to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), has reached an advanced stage.
The extent of work was witnessed by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, during on-the-site inspection visits to some units in Kaduna on 4 June 2018.
The CAS also inspected the ongoing construction of headquarters complex for the Air 3 Command Kaduna. He was pleased to observe that work was progressing as scheduled.
Meanwhile, the airframe of one of the 3 aircraft received from the NIS had been heavily corroded before it was handed over and therefore Beyond Economic Repairs.
Furthermore, preliminary inspections have been conducted on the remaining 2 aircraft by NAF engineers and technicians at 431 Engineering Group, NAF Base Kaduna.
One of the 2 repairable Do-238 aircraft that was at Kaduna Civil Airport has already been ferried to the Kaduna military airfield following initial maintenance activities by the NAF maintenance crew.
In addition, the faded paintings on both aircraft have been replaced with military paint schemes to minimize corrosion and in preparation for subsequent deployment to operational theaters.
The NAF is now awaiting the delivery of the required Time Change Items and other aircraft spares to enable the conduct of mandatory outstanding scheduled inspections on both aircraft.
Apart from its usefulness as a light liaison transport aircraft, the Do-228 could be employed for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions in the counterinsurgency and other operations in the country.
Consequently, by the time the reactivation is completed, the operational effectiveness of the NAF would be further boosted and the hitherto grounded aircraft prevented from total decay.
