By Clement Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has disclosed that its 401 Flying Training School (401 FTS) has trained up to 900 pilots for the Air Force and Nigerian Navy, while extending its military aviation training to six African countries.
The NAF made this known in a statement posted on its official X handle on Saturday, highlighting the School’s decades-long contribution to developing military aviators and strengthening Nigeria’s air power.
Established in 1964 as the Light Liaison Transport Squadron, the 401 FTS has evolved into a major training institution responsible for nurturing generations of military pilots and equipping them with the skills, discipline and professionalism required for demanding air operations.
According to the NAF, the School has also trained 27 pilots from Benin Republic, Cape Verde, Niger Republic, Zimbabwe, Liberia and Sierra Leone, reinforcing its contribution to regional military aviation development.
Beyond basic and ab-initio flying training, the School’s responsibilities have expanded to include transport, instructor pilot, type-rating and captaincy training, as well as the development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operators.
The institution has operated several aircraft and platforms to meet its evolving training needs, including the RV-6A Air Beetle, DO-228, DA-40NG, DA-42MPP, Super Mushshak and CW-40 UAV.
It has also conducted specialised tactical, mission command and instrument courses, broadening its capacity to develop personnel for both conventional and unmanned aviation operations.
The NAF said the School remains central to its commitment to building a professional, disciplined and operationally effective force, noting that its contributions extend beyond training to operational support for Operation FASAN YAMA, Operation HADIN KAI and Operation HADARIN DAJI.
The Service emphasised that the institution’s legacy goes beyond the number of pilots it has produced, stressing its role in instilling confidence, sound judgement, resilience, courage and the fighting spirit required of military aviators.
Precise Post recalls that from initial cockpit instruction to the demands of modern air operations, the 401 FTS continues to prepare pilots and other aviation personnel to support national security, safeguard Nigeria’s airspace and sustain the country’s air power.
The NAF reaffirmed the School’s enduring importance in developing the next generation of military aviators as the Service continues to strengthen its operational capabilities and training standards.
