The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar says Nigeria will strengthen strategic partnership with other countries to provide pathways for a long-lasting solution to addressing the problems encountered in pilot training.
Air Marshal Abubakar stated this while speaking with the commander of the Czech Republic Airforce Major General Petr Cepelka, on the sideline at the ongoing Air Force 2023 international conference in Prague, Czech Republic.
Abubakar explained that NAF was poised to strengthen its strategic collaboration with the Czech Air Force in the areas of technological transfer, capacity building as well as research and development.
This according to him, would enhance the proficiency of NAF maintenance crew to be able to undertake some major maintenance works in-country, thereby reducing aircraft downtime, while improving air operations.
Air Marshal Abubakar acknowledged that the NAF had previously worked with the Czech Air Force on pilot trainings on the L-39Z aircraft simulator, altitude chamber, and spatial disorientation training for many NAF pilots across different platforms, which had a positive impact on NAF’s fighting capabilities, but he also sought cooperation and collaboration in the areas of counter-terrorism, counterinsurgency, and pilot training.
Responding, the Czech Chief of Air Staff, Major General Petr Cepelka thanked Air Marshal Abubakar for sustaining the long history of mutual relationship that existed between the NAF and the Czech Air Force.
He assured the NAF Chief of support in the areas of aircraft acquisition, maintenance, unmanned aerial vehicle operations and training of NAF special forces.
The Director of Public Relations and Information of NAF, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet said the Air Chief also held meeting with officials of Aero Vodochody, who were the original equipment manufacturers of the NAF L-39Z aircraft, where issues relating to scheduling and timing of overhaul and avionics upgrade of 3 NAF L-39Z were discussed, among others.
Writing by Usman Sani; Editing by Jennifer Ogor