NCAA, NASENI Plan Local Manufacturing of Helicopters

• NCAA, NASENI Plan Local Manufacturing of Helicopters

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure are set to collaborate on local manufacturing of helicopters.

The NCAA is expected to provide relevant guides for NASENI, an agency designed to conduct developmental work in the areas of manufacturing.

The Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Prof. Muhammed Haruna, during a courtesy visit to the NCAA on Wednesday, said the agency had placed an order for a Dynali H3 easy flyer sport ultralight helicopter for the purpose of reverse engineering.

He explained that in line with the agency’s mandate in aviation and aeronautics technology, NASENI had reached out to potential partners and manufacturers of helicopters, and Dynali Helicopter Manufacturing Company of Belgium was found to be a willing partner.

He said Dynali had been selected because its technology would be easier to copy, learn, domesticate and modify.

Haruna said Dynali was also willing to build the capacity of the agency’s members of staff for maintenance, repair, assembly and manufacturing of helicopters in Nigeria.

He stated that before the end of 2019, the agency would have mastered the art of building the helicopters.

He said NASENI had produced unmanned aerial vehicle also known as drones, in the past.

He said, “We have facilities for reverse engineering. In fact, we have a centre which we call rapid prototyping centre. Any machine that you want to reproduce, we have facilities, advanced manufacturing equipment for that matter, on how to give us something fast.

“But then, aviation is a high safety and security industry and we must wait for certification from the NCAA before we proceed further. We are confident that through the support of the NCAA and that of other stakeholders, the made-in Nigeria Helicopter project will be a success.”

The Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Mukhtar Usman, said the agency would provide guidance in line with global standards and recommended practices in aviation.

“Aviation is highly regulated, it is international in nature and that is why the NASENI came to partner with us to ensure that international standards and recommended practices are maintained because aviation is a high precision industry which involves safety and security,” Usman said.