The Federal Government is to buy 20 aircraft to equip Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria and make it a centre of excellence.

Mr. Hadi Sirika, Minister of State for Aviation, confirmed on Monday in Abuja that NCAT had also taken delivery of a brand new Diamond DA24NG.

The minister, who launched the new aircraft in Zaria said that the aircraft would improve the training capacity of the college.

He observed that the current aircraft in use were highly expensive to maintain, adding that the college would now be more competitive and dynamic in the global aviation industry.

Sirika lauded the efforts of the management of the college especially for introducing courses in line with the guidelines of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

“I am aware of efforts by NCAT to run National Diploma and Higher National Diploma; be rest assured, you will have our full support and that of the president.”

The minister charged staff of the college to seek for more knowledge because the world had changed from resource based economy to knowledge-based.

Earlier, the Rector of the college, Capt. Abdussalami Mohammed, said the college currently has 29 trainer aircraft.

“These aircraft used for ab-initio training TB9, Trinidad TB20GT and Beech Baron 58 are old, the earliest being purchased 15 years ago and quite expensive to fuel and maintain,’’ he said.

The rector said the new trainer aircraft would significantly improve the flight training experience and reduce operating cost.

He added that the newly acquired aircraft was equipped with glass cockpit and garmin 1000, which would make it easier for graduating pilots to transit to new generation commercial aircraft.

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