Ime Akpan
The rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Capt. Mohammed Abdulsalami has said that the college was yet to take delivery of four Diamond Aircraft it placed order for due to the relocation of its manufacturer from Austria to Canada.
Speaking in an interview with aviation reporters at the college on Wednesday, Abdulsalami said the federal government had given approval for NCAT to acquire 20 Diamond aircraft, comprising five DA42 twine engine and 15 with DA40 single engine.
“When I assumed duty in 2017, we took delivery of one DA42 in April 2017. The college placed orders for additional aircraft but we were informed by the contractor that the Diamond Aircraft Company was bought over by another company and that a new owner decided to relocate the production line from Austria to Canada.
“They told us that they will not be able to produce aircraft for at least nine to 10 months due to the relocation of the assembly line.
“That is what affected the delivery of the four additional DA40 which we have on order now.
“That is what affected the delivery of the additional aircraft because we asked for additional four DA 40 aircraft, which is what we have on order now.
“That company is up and running in Canada now and we expect to take delivery of those four DA 40 aircraft before the end of this year.
“We also have additional DA 40 aircraft that was given to the college by an insurance company as part from an insurance settlement.
“That factory is up and running in Canada now and we expect to take delivery of those four DA40 aircraft sometime this year.’’
“So by the time we have the four delivered, we will have one DA42 and five DA40s,” he said.
The rector also said the college had planned to increase its modern training aircraft to 14 this year.
He added that an insurance company had given the aviation training school an additional DA40 aircraft as part of insurance settlement.
