NAF celebrates first Female Fighter Pilot, first Female Helicopter Combat Pilot; Wings 101 Pilots in 4 years.

The Nigerian Airforce on Tuesday 15th October 2019 winged 13 new pilots including its first female fighter jet pilot in 55 years and its first female helicopter combatant pilot after they distinguished themselves in training.

Flying Officer Kafayat Omolara Sanni becomes the fight female fighter pilot while Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile becomes the first female helicopter combat pilot.

Also, the first female Air Warrant Officer in the NAF, AWO Grace Garba was decorated with her new rank at the ceremony.

A jubilant Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar who was on hand to wing the officers, disclosed that in the last four years, the NAF has winged a total of 101 trained pilot officers.

He said, “As at today, we have trained a total of 67 Instructor pilots since 2015. Furthermore, with the winging of these pilots today, the NAF would have winged a total of 101 pilots within the same period.

“Currently, we have 61 pilots undergoing ab-initio/basic flying training, while 50 are undergoing various forms of advanced flying training courses both locally and abroad.

“As such we are highly delighted to see the rewards of our collective efforts.

“I am confident that the NAF and indeed Nigeria will soon be reaping the benefits that these pilots would undoubtedly add to our operations.

“In a bid to consolidate on our gains on the fighter aircraft stream and our force projection outlook, all hands have been on deck to increase the number of serviceable L-39ZA aircraft for basic fighter training.

“Also, increased serviceability of the A-Jets has inspired continuous advance fighter training locally.

“More so, with the NAF preparing to receive 2 additional helicopter gunships, our counterinsurgency efforts will soon be greatly enhanced.

“Furthermore, it is envisaged that with the induction of the Super Tucano A29 aircraft into the NAF inventory, our fighter training efforts will also be greatly enhanced.

“All these are complemented by ongoing efforts at reactivating grounded aircraft locally with our technical partners, which has improved our maintenance capabilities and afforded our technicians the opportunity to benefit from on-the-job training.

“These achievements have saved the nation scarce resources.

Continuing he said, “To our young pilots, I congratulate you and your family members and join you to celebrate your achievement.

“I must also implore you to be prepared for the arduous task ahead of you as you fit into the operational flying environment.

“I must add that the mission of a fruitful flying career has just begun and as such you must stay inspired.

“You must open your minds to learn and be prepared to be guided by your senior colleagues in the field.

“In this regard, you must note that you require a lot of discipline, diligence, humility, loyalty and result oriented hard work to succeed in this profession.

Therefore, do not forget the 3 Ds to success which are; ‘Drive, Discipline and Desire to be better everyday’.

“The current national security situation requires us to remain highly committed and focused. We must be willing, able and ready always.

“We are also witnessing another ground breaking feat in the Nigerian Air Force today. The first female Air Warrant Officer will be decorated during this event.

“She has braced all odds and established herself as more than worthy of the promotion to the enviable rank of Air Warrant Officer”.

“At this point, I want to reassure all Nigerians that the Nigerian Air Force remains fully committed to the successful execution of its constitutional roles and will strive to continually meet its statutory responsibility of defending the territorial integrity of the nation, acting singly or jointly with our sister Services and other security agencies.

In his welcome address, Air Officer Training and Operations, Air Vice Marshal IO Amao said the winging ceremony and decoration of first female Air Warrant Officer in the NAF, which is another milestone achievement by the Chief of the Air Staff is in line with one of the key drivers of the Chief of Air Staff, which is ‘Human Capacity development through robust and result oriented training for enhanced professional performance’.

“Today, as it is customary in the NAF within the past 4 years, we would be witnessing another Winging Ceremony of 13 student pilots. Six of whom were trained at Westline Aviation Limited, South Africa and another 6 officers including the first female helicopter pilot in the NAF were trained at Starlite International Training Academy, South Africa.

“Last but not the least is the first female fighter pilot trained at Columbus Air Force Base United States of America.

“These new pilots would no doubt boost the pilot manning needs of the Service as their deployment to the various NAF platforms would enhance the fulfillment of the constitutional roles of the Nigerian Air Force especially in the ongoing operations in the North East and North West.

The Special Guest of Honour Ma, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, permit me to give you a brief Giving a brief highlight he said, “The 13 pilots to be winged today comprise 12 helicopter and one fixed wing pilots.

“The first ever female fighter pilot in the Nigerian Air Force was trained at the United States Air Force under the prestigious Aviation Leadership Programme from 31 Jan 18 to 16 Aug 19.

“Similarly, the officers that attended Westline Aviation Limited, South Africa commenced their flying training on 20 Aug 18 and completed the course on 10 Sep 19, while, flying training for the Nigerian Air Force Student Pilots at Starlite International Training Academy in South Africa was conducted from 9 Aug 18 to 12 Oct 19.

“It is worthy of mention that 4 of these officers, while training in South Africa undertook the A109P helicopter initial type rating training in Italy, thereby becoming operational before the completion of flying training.

“This is a unique achievement in the history of the Nigerian Air Force. All this points to the fact that the 13 officers have gone through the rigours of flying training and their inclusion into the elite pilot corps would no doubt enhance pilot disposition especially as the NAF is inducting additional platforms.

“As we speak, there are 12 student pilots undergoing training in the United States of America comprising; 2 at the United States Air Force for the Undergraduate Pilot Training and 10 student pilots at Civic Helicopters undergoing Basic Helicopter training while 2 student pilots are currently undergoing basic flying training at the Indian Air Force.

“Also, 4 student pilots are being processed for Combat helicopter pilots training at the United States Army Aviation, Fort Rucker. Furthermore, 10 student pilots have been processed for Military-Style Rotary Wing Pilot Training at Cobham Aviation Services in the United Kingdom. Most of the trainings are tailored towards ensuring that the pilots on graduation are mission ready.

“It is worthy of mention that the NAF under the leadership of Air Marshal Sadiq Baba Abubakar DFS has trained 22,841personnel comprising of 2,414 foreign trained and 20,427 locally trained personnel in different specialties in the last 4 years.”

Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Paulen Tallen who was Special Guest of Honour, commended the NAF leadership for creating an equal opportunity establishment for all to serve their fatherland.
This is unprecedented in the history of NAF. All these goes to reinforce the CAS’ drive to improve the professionalism of Nigerian Air Force personnel through deliberate and targeted specialist trainings.

Present at the occasion were the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal Sani Usman, the Chief of Policy and Plans, Army HQ, Lt. Gen, Lamidi Adeosun, Commandant, Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Lagos, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Liman among others.

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