The Chief of the Air Staff, CAS, Sadique Abubakar, has said, for the first time in the history of the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, Nigerian female pilot, is on her way to the United States Air Force for training as a fighter pilot.
According to a statement signed by the NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Olatokunbo Adesanya, Mr Abubakar disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during his opening remarks at the CAS Fourth Quarter Conference.
The NAF helmsman, who is an air marshal, said the female pilot had earlier this year graduated as the overall best pilot during ab-initio training at 401 Flying Training School Kaduna.
While pointing out how NAF had reorganized its air combat structure in the Northeast for increased operational efficiency, Mr Abubakar said 24 pilots had completed their training and would soon be deployed for operational duties.
According to the CAS, the Air Component Commander has been replaced with a Commander Air Task Force, CATF, an Air Vice Marshal (a 2-star General), who reports to the overall Theatre Commander.
“The new CATF is Air Vice Marshal Idi Lubo, who was serving as the Air Component Commander. The NAF has also appointed three Divisional Air Liaison Officers, DALO, for the 3 Armoured Division as well as 7 and 8 Divisions of the Nigerian Army in the Northeast.
“The whole idea is to ensure a better coordination of air efforts with ground operations,” he stressed.
DAILY NIGERIAN can report that the NAF has appointed an Air Liaison Officer for the Theatre Command to further limit the possibility of gaps in operations.
