As part of his operational tour of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) establishments in Lagos, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, visited Caverton Helicopters Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility on December 13, 2024. The purpose of the visit was to evaluate the progress on the ongoing 2,500-hour and 5-year major inspections of NAF Bell-412 helicopters (NAF 599 and NAF 600).
Emphasis on Local Expertise
Air Marshal Abubakar commended Caverton’s technical expertise and state-of-the-art facilities, expressing satisfaction with the quality of work being done. He noted that NAF 600 was near operational readiness, while NAF 599 was 70% complete. The CAS emphasized the importance of leveraging local partnerships to reduce reliance on foreign services, enhance NAF’s fleet maintenance, and build national capacity for aircrew training and technical development. He described the collaboration with Caverton as a model for sustainable solutions that align with NAF’s commitment to operational excellence.
Caverton’s Commitment
The Chief Executive Officer of Caverton Helicopters, Mr. Olabode Makanjuola, assured the CAS of the company’s readiness to continue delivering top-notch services to support NAF operations. He highlighted the facility’s achievements in overhauling critical helicopter components and noted the value of the NAF partnership in strengthening Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Continued Collaboration
Caverton has been consistently involved in maintenance and procurement work for the Nigerian military. In March of the previous year, personnel from the 205 Rotary Wing (205 RW) of the Nigerian Air Force in Ikeja visited the Caverton MRO facility. The visit, led by Flt. Lt. A.E. Morgan, was part of the wing’s operational strategy to optimize maintenance activities and strengthen existing partnerships. During this visit, a Nigerian Air Force Bell 412EP (NAF 600) was undergoing maintenance at the Caverton MRO facility in Lagos.
In June 2023, the Commander of the 631 Aircraft Maintenance Depot, Nigerian Air Force Lagos, Air Commodore Olarenwaju Ademola Oyename, paid a working visit to Caverton MRO. The Commander and his team were received by the Director of Quality & Safety, Kofo Macaulay, and the Maintenance Manager, Ravi Kumar. The team inspected several helicopters and engines being maintained at Caverton’s facility.
Enhancing Training Capabilities
In December 2021, Caverton announced that a number of AW139 full-flight simulators from Caverton Aviation would be supplied to the Nigerian Navy to train its helicopter pilots. At the time, Caverton had successfully carried out recurrent training for four pilots, with plans for additional training in the first quarter of 2022.
Most recently, in November, the Nigerian Navy took delivery of three Leonardo A-109 Trekker helicopters from Caverton Helicopters Nigeria Limited. These helicopters feature a purpose-built VIP configuration with a full leather and noise attenuation system.
The visit by Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar to Caverton Helicopters MRO facility highlighted the critical role of indigenous solutions in advancing Nigeria’s aviation sector. By fostering local partnerships and leveraging domestic expertise, the Nigerian Air Force is enhancing its operational capabilities and promoting sustainable aviation solutions.
