Daily Trust

Federal Government last week boosted operations of the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria, by procuring a $3.5 million (N525 million) brand new TBM 850 “super-fast” turboprop high performance aircraft for the College.

Rector of the College, Captain Adebayo Araba, who took delivery of the aircraft at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport Abuja, explained that the aircraft was procured primarily for advanced airline transport pilot (ATP) training courses.

According to him, the delivery of the 2010 Model TBM 850 aircraft was a significant milestone in the strategic resolve of the Federal Government and the management of NCAT to ensure that the College regains its former reputation as Africa’s foremost aviation training institution.

He explained that the turboprop high performance aircraft was manufactured and customized specifically for NCAT by DAHER-SOCATA France, as part of the College’s year 2010 FGN capital budget while the contract was handled by Messrs IBT & Associates in collaboration with DAHER SOCATA, France.
He said, “I can say to you categorically that the college is going to be the first ever to have this type of airplane in its inventory for training because there is always this global change and we are really ready for the advance training when it comes to piloting instead of reducing the training to piston engine. So we’ve gone a step further to turboprop plane.”