The Federal Government on Thursday evening took delivery of a calibration aircraft worth $8.5m that will serve in the calibration of navigational aids across Nigerian airports.
According to the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, the aircraft would help make Nigeria’s airspace safer.
Sirika, who tweeted the development via his official Twitter handle on Thursday night, said, “Just received new calibration aircraft for the country. (The) make is King Air 350i. Cost is $8.5m.
Providing further explanation on the usefulness of the aircraft, the minister said, “The purpose of this aircraft is to calibrate our equipment and aids in the country for the purpose of flight operations. We used to have one in Nigeria but for the last two decades, we never had one.”
Sirika said what informed the government to procure the aircraft was that when it was reconstructing the Abuja airport runway, there was the need recalibrate all the landing aids at the time, which was actually the requirement.
“This is to ensure they are working in perfect order,” he added.
He, however, noted that at that time Nigeria did not have the capability as a country.
Source: Punch
