To save forex, NCAT moves to acquire another full-flight simulator

The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, has disclosed plans to acquire an ERJ-145 full flight simulator to boost training of pilots. The rector of the college, Dr Danjuma Ismail, said this would complement the existing Boeing 737 flight simulation which the federal government already acquired. He spoke during the opening ceremony of the […]

The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, has disclosed plans to acquire an ERJ-145 full flight simulator to boost training of pilots.

The rector of the college, Dr Danjuma Ismail, said this would complement the existing Boeing 737 flight simulation which the federal government already acquired.

He spoke during the opening ceremony of the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) training course held at the college in Zaria.

The training course was sponsored by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The rector also outlined strategic initiatives aimed at repositioning the institution to meet the growing demands of Nigeria’s aviation industry.

Daily Trust reports that pilots are expected to undergo simulator training every six months to renew their licences. With the full-flight simulator being domestic in-country, it is expected that millions of dollars would be retained in the country.

The rector reiterated that the ERJ-145 simulator will complement the recently acquired Boeing 737 full flight simulator and is part of a broader plan to ensure pilots across different aircraft types can conduct recurrent training locally, in line with global safety requirements.

He said, “Most aviation professionals, especially pilots, must undergo simulator training every six months to renew their licences.

“We have already acquired the Boeing 737 simulator and are finalising plans to procure the ERJ-145, the second most commonly flown aircraft in Nigeria.”

He stressed that these simulators will significantly reduce the need for local airlines to send their personnel abroad for mandatory training, thereby saving costs and foreign exchange.

The rector also revealed that the college has embarked on a critical expansion drive to boost student intake and enhance training efficiency. He explained that NCAT is currently constrained by limited hostel accommodation and key facilities, which hampers its ability to run multiple training courses simultaneously.

He said, “Right now, we have only about 120 rooms. Construction has started to increase our hostel capacity. Once completed, it will enable us to admit and train more students across various aviation disciplines.”

He also acknowledged the existence of a training gap within some aviation fields and highlighted his administration’s resolve to close that gap through targeted programme development and infrastructure upgrades.

“When I assumed office, I noticed that some aviation professions were not being fully catered to in our training offerings. Our task now is to reposition the college to meet those needs locally,” Ismail added.

He praised the federal government for its continued investment in NCAT, stating that the support reflects a long-term vision of building capacity within Nigeria’s aviation sector and reducing reliance on foreign training.