The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, has charged 30 newly graduated helicopter pilots of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to uphold integrity, professionalism, and dedication as they prepare to serve in a dynamic and demanding security environment.

The charge was delivered on Tuesday, July 30, 2025, during the Combined Graduation Ceremony of the Integrated Helicopter Pilot Course 9/2024 and the Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) Course 2/2025 at the International Helicopter Flying School (IHFS), Enugu. The CAS was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations, Air Vice Marshal Nnamdi Edosa.

Air Marshal Abubakar, in a message filled with motivation and purpose, congratulated the graduates, describing their achievement as a crucial step into a complex operational domain. “You are stepping into a dynamic and complex operational environment. The threats to our national security are multifaceted and constantly evolving. Your success will depend not only on the flying skills you have acquired but on your ability to adapt, collaborate, and operate as part of a coordinated joint force,” he said.

He urged the pilots to wear their wings with humility and responsibility, emphasizing that their actions reflect the hopes of a nation and the trust of a service that plays a vital role in national peace and stability.

The event also featured the commissioning of a newly renovated aircraft hangar at IHFS — a critical infrastructural boost to enhance aircraft maintenance and operational capacity. The CAS noted that the hangar is part of a broader upgrade initiative, which includes a new school headquarters and 36 units of student accommodation, all geared toward transforming IHFS into a globally recognized helicopter training institution.

“This institution is not just training pilots,” the Air Marshal remarked, “we are building a self-reliant, mission-ready, and resilient force capable of addressing the airpower requirements of today’s battlefield.”

In addition to the pilot graduations, the ceremony celebrated IHFS instructors who completed their ATPL training, alongside the promotion of several personnel — milestones that signify the school’s growing instructional capacity and commitment to global aviation standards.

Air Marshal Abubakar commended the leadership and instructional team of IHFS for their professionalism and dedication to nurturing world-class aviators. He also acknowledged the Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Limited and the school’s Board of Directors for their oversight and strategic guidance.

The graduation marked not only a milestone in pilot training but also reflected the Nigerian Air Force’s broader vision to strengthen rotary-wing aviation capabilities as part of the country’s evolving security framework.