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The Chief of Air Force Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, has officially winged 17 newly trained pilots of 405 Helicopter Training Group (HCTG) to improve Nigerian Air Force (NAF) combat readiness.

Amao, who was represented by the NAF Chief of Policy and Planning, AVM Jackson Yusuf, made the winging after the pilot successful completion of the Integrated Helicopter Pilot Course 7/2021 at 405 Helicopter Training Group (HCTG), Enugu.<!--more-->

He noted that NAF under his leadership had succeeded in training and winging 36 pilots within the last one year even “as we have sent over 70 officers on various flying training course abroad”.

According to him, currently we have over 2,000 personnel undergoing various flights and flying training courses within various training institutions to ensure we meet with contemporary challenges and needs.

“NAF will continue to train its personnel for them to gather the best international experiences and exposure for improved operational efficiency, with the capability to respond swiftly in defense of national security.

“We are laying emphasis on training to ensure that NAF is ready to meet known and emerging security threatens confronting the country’s territorial integrity in a joint operating environment,” he said.

The CAS lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for the overwhelming support given to NAF, adding that all its flying training schools are functional at present.

“The successes recorded by NAF within this time cannot be possible without the overwhelming support of President Muhammadu Buhari that had ensured we lived up to our mandate effectively,” he said.

The NAF chief congratulated the newly winged officers, while calling on them to brace up for further training and capacity building meant to usher them to higher operational and tactical responsibilities.

The Commander, 405 HCTG, Enugu, Wing Commander Ayodeji Omokunga, explained that the 17 newly winged pilots included a pilot that completed his training in India with excellence.

Omokunga noted that to get passed and certified, the new pilots went through rigorous academic and field training for over a year as well as trained under difficult circumstances.

“Today, they have moved from student pilots status to basic pilots and we also have two female pilots that performed well during the training period,” he said.

The commander urged the newly winged pilots to brace up for further training especially on special combat and tactical training.

In a vote of thanks, one of the newly winged pilots, Flying Officer Immanuel Ogwuni, thanked the CAS, NAF chief of training, the Air Officer Commanding of Ground Training Command (GTC), Enugu and commander 405 HCTG for giving them the opportunity.

“We are sincerely grateful and indebted to the NAF leadership and authority for this wonderful opportunity and support given to our career. Thank you sirs,” Ogwuni said.

The major highlight of the event was awards presented to outstanding newly winged pilots that performed exceptionally well during the training.