Dana pledges to train more Nigerian Pilots, decorates captains, first officers
Picture Caption:
L-R Director of Flight Operations, Captain Segun Omole, Newly promote Captain Sylvester Kalu, First Officer Wahab Lawal, First Officer Ilesanmi Ayotunde and Chief Operating officer Obi Mbanuzuo during the decoration of newly promoted captains and newly trained Nigerian Pilots recently in Lagos
Story by Franklin Ihejirika
The management of Dana Air has pledged to train more Nigerian Pilots year in year out as it decorates two captains and three first officers.
Speaking while decorating Kalu Sylvester, ibrahim Kassim as the airline’s new Captains, including Ilesanmi Ayotunde, Afolabi Damilola and Wahab Lawal as first officers, the director of Dana Air flight operations, Captain Segun Omole stated that the airline trained no fewer than 27 Nigerian pilots in 2017.
Captain Omole disclosed that most of the pilots were trained in Nigeria, some in South Africa and USA.
He charged the newly decorated Captains and first officers to maintain the safety records Dana Air is known for.
The director of Dana Air flight operations explained that by the time he was employed, the airline has only two Nigerian captains who were trained for the MD 83 aircraft and the rest were foreigners, adding that today 80 percent of the workforce are now Nigerians.
He said Dana will continue to train new pilots on their own and will also bring in one or two from other airlines.
Omole added that the airline want all their pilots to come in as first officers and also grow from there as those who grow with them have better experience.
He explained further that the kind of bounding Dana Air enters with their pilots are the types the airline spends about $12000 – 13000 for initial training of the pilots which are deducted gradually from their salaries and within 18 months, all the money paid for the training are fully deducted and the pilot are free.
Speaking also at the event, the chief operating officer of Dana Air, Obi Mbanuzuo charged the newly decorated officers to put in their best for the airline.
He said the airline has no fewer than 16 Captains and about 17 co-pilots.
Obi noted that the airlines has three planes flying, two abroad undergoing maintenance and another one in the country which will add to the number of airline’s fleets when the aircraft come back from maintenance this year .
Speaking on behalf of other newly decorated officers, Captain Kalu Sylvester thanked the management of Dana Air for the opportunity given to them to serve.
He promised that they will be good ambassadors of the airline.
Kalu also promised that he will strive with his colleagues to maintain Dana’s safety record, on-time departure and other notable qualities the airline is known for.
Maida expressed excitement at Nigeria’s success at World Radio Communications Conference 2023
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Maida expressed excitement at Nigeria’s success at World Radio Communications Conference 2023
Maida expressed excitement at Nigeria’s success at World Radio Communications Conference 2023