Firms in talks with govt over plan to assemble aircraft in Nigeria
Austria aircraft manufacturing company, Diamond Aircraft Industries, has partnered Interjet Nigeria Limited to begin talks with the federal government on their plan to establish an aircraft assembly plant in Nigeria.
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The assembly plant, when established, will cater for the West African market and beyond.
Diamond Aircraft Industries is an Austrian-based manufacturer of general aviation aircraft and motor gliders. It is the third largest manufacturer of aircraft for the general aviation sector, and has a global presence; possessing its own manufacturing facilities in Wiener Neustadt, Lower Austria and in London, Ontario, Canada, as well as further production lines operated as joint ventures in other nations such as China.
The Managing Director of Interjet Nigeria Limited, Mr Seun Peters, who confirmed the plan, said decisions would soon be taken on the project.
"Interjet Limited, in partnership with Diamond Aircraft of Austria, is working towards building a state-of-the-art maintenance facility in Abuja to service Nigeria and other West African countries. We are confident that in view of our experience, the dream of the Buhari-led Administration to turn Nigeria into a leading aviation hub for sales and maintenance of aircraft in Africa will be realised," he said.
Diamond Aircraft Industries is supplying the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria with 20 trainer aircraft with after-sales skills training.
During the commissioning of the first batch of the aircraft, the representative of Diamond, Mr Reinhard Schwaiger, confirmed the plan in an interview and said the management of the company would take a decision on when the plant would be established in Nigeria.
On the delivery of trainer aircraft to NCAT, Mr Schwaiger said the company had already trained NCAT technical personnel who would be maintaining the aircraft.
"We have trained some personnel already. Diamond customer service is a one-stop shop. We train for the airframe and the engine," he said.
Mr Schwaiger said his company, in partnership with Interjet, would work with NCAT and Nigeria to develop technical skills in aircraft maintenance when the plant is established.
Mr Peters, in his address during the commissioning of the newly delivered aircraft, said the college was expected to play significant roles in the development of aviation in Nigeria, considering the fact that it was one of the great aviation schools in Africa.
"We are well aware of the role NCAT is expected to play in training quality manpower; first among equals for safety, standards and efficiency. This role is very crucial to the diversification drive of government to open our country to foreign investments; in this we are proud to be associated with the federal government in making this a reality. Our determination is to see NCAT re-positioned as a foremost international academy; a choice training aviation institution for professionals in the whole of Africa; we believe this is very possible.
