The Chief of the Air Staff’s quest to re-professionalise the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) through capacity building initiatives has received a further boost with the winging of another young NAF combat pilot, Flying Officer Salihu Ibrahim Usman, who recently completed his Basic Fighter Introduction Course in the United States of America (USA).

The investiture, which took place today, 16 October 2018, at the Chief of the Air Staff’s (CAS) Conference Room, Headquarters (HQ) NAF, has brought to 91 the total number of pilots winged within the past 3 years. This is besides the 67 NAF officers who are currently undergoing flying training in various flying institutions both within and outside the country. It is therefore expected that by this time next year, the total number of new pilots would reach an unprecedented 158 in just 4 years.

More remarkably, among the 67 student pilots, is the first female NAF student fighter pilot, who is currently undergoing Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT) in the USA, as well as another female student pilot, who is undergoing helicopter training in South Africa to become the first female helicopter pilot in the NAF.

While speaking during the winging ceremony, the CAS, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, expressed delight to receive the pilot back from the USA and congratulated him for his outstanding performances during the SUPT and Basic Fighter Introduction Courses. He stated that the officer's exceptional results on the various courses came as no surprise given his pedigree in emerging best graduating NAF Cadet in his course at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and also performing extremely well during the Initial Officer Training (IOT) Course at the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell United Kingdom (UK). He noted that these were, no doubt, evidences of the officer’s hard work, dedication and determination to succeed.

While urging the officer to sustain this level of commitment to duty, the CAS remarked that the young pilot was returning to the country at a time when the NAF, with the kind support of the Federal Government, was about to receive additional combat platforms in the shape of the A-29 Super Tucano and JF-17 Thunder Multi-Role Fighter. He remarked that these new platforms would improve NAF’s ability to more effectively respond to national security imperatives.

The newly winged pilot was admitted into the NDA in August 2010 as a member of 62nd Regular Combatant Course, where he obtained a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. As the best Air Force Cadet in his course, he was nominated for IOT Course, at the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell UK after which he was commissioned into the NAF as a Pilot Officer.

Thereafter, Flying Officer Usman was nominated for the SUPT where he earned the United States Air Force Silver Wing. Upon successful completion of the SUPT Course with outstanding performance, the USAF found him worthy of recommendation for the Basic Fighter Introduction Course. He has a total of 265 flying hours on the Cessna 172, T-6A and T-38C aircraft types.

See more; https://www.nationalhelm.co/2018/10/capacity-development-cas-wings-another-combat-pilot.html

Nice. Make they give this guy better plane.

Congrats young pilot.May BH never halt your career.

Hard work and a little bit of luck

Planning to buy a car? Already bought one without a history report? You may have purchased a car with all kinds of dangerous damage history viz accidents and collisions, flood or water damage, theft and vandalism, mileage and odometer rollback, or more. Get in touch for your Premium V I N reports right away! Protect your auto assets and investments! Check the signature!

RESPECT

Got by the North and for the North

nice

Brilliant by selection...

Anyway, we hear

cool

CarGuideNG:
Hard work and a little bit of luck

You are right..

Ability without opportunity is of little count.

God bless NAF

God bless Nigeria

looks cool

Like if you thiink that office looks like Mane

They would carry the same nepotism they used to ruin Nigerian Army into Airforce and later wonder why their planes keep falling like kite.

Good one.

Good one
But not a lofty height.
Just rudimentary / Basic

The weather there did not even freshen his looks at all

jah blessings follow u

Nigerian Air force just setting new records under this present chief. 91 winged pilots is just three years..

wickyyolo:
Got by the North and for the North

WHY? WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THIS GREAT ACHIEVEMENT AS A NIGERIAN VOID OF TRIBE OR ENTHNICITY. CONGRATULATIONS. NIGERIANS WILL SOAR WITH ENEABLING ENVIRONMENT. CONGRATULATIONS.

I no want to hear say him fall fRom jet. Abi Boko boys fall him jet.

256 hours Basic flying on cessna and T38 Tallon na him a whole country dey celebrate so oò....

I just pray is talent don't waste here.. Flying the F-7 jet alone z something else.

His name is USMAN.
This ones go see BH and bone.
Instruction from government. If they are praying no shoot ...

SarkinYarki:
256 hours Basic flying on cessna and T38 Tallon na him a whole country dey celebrate so oò....

1. That dude started flying less than 4 years ago.

2. He's not a commercial pilot, he's a trainee combat pilot. How many flight hours do you expect him to have?

good one, he should have access to jets, like f16, mirage what d heck is a military pilot doing with a cessna?

Hotfreezer:


1. That dude started flying less than 4 years ago.

2. He's not a commercial pilot, he's a trainee combat pilot. How many flight hours do you expect him to have?

what do you mean, is for 4yrs not enough to be jet certified? I know we lack the equipment but we should stop celebrating mediocrity and nepotism.

Are you trying to tell me that only a northerner was deemed fit to go for this course? despite the evidence that the average southerner has a higher IQ than an average northerner.

Lord Lugard should burn in the hottest part of hell.

Racoon:
Congrats young pilot.May BH never halt your career.

Mugu, who help am fulfilled the career?

Make good use of your training, boy. Congrats.