Inadequate Training Aircraft May Trigger Pilot Shortage in Nigeria

As a lack of trainer aircraft disrupts training at the International Aviation College (IAC), Ilorin, Kwara State, a pilot shortage could soon affect the Nigerian aviation sector.

Due to recent serious incidents involving its only remaining trainer airplane, the college no longer has trainer aircraft for training its student pilots, a source close to the institution told our correspondent over the weekend.

In a phone conversation with our correspondent, however, the college refuted the assertion, stating that it now has two operational planes for student pilot training.

At its height, the college, which was founded in 2011 by then-state governor Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, had six trainer aircraft. However, according to sources close to the college, it now does not have any operational aircraft for the flying school.

Helicopters, Diamond DA 4Os, and Diamond DA 42s were among the aircraft utilized for the college’s multi-engine rating courses.

Another trainer aircraft registered 5N-BHN crashed-landed in 2019 with no indication that it was ever put back into service.

For the nation’s aviation industry, the college has trained at least 250 pilots with both private pilot licenses (PPL) and commercial pilot licenses (CPL).

A student pilot was hurt when a college-operated trainer plane crashed and landed on Friday, May 23, 2025.

The incident happened at Ilorin International Airport’s Runway 05 during approach.

According to our source, the only aircraft the college had for training that was involved in the serious incident sustained significant damage.

The serious mishap occurred during “a mock check flight” to prepare the student pilot for a CPL check ride, according to our source, therefore the check flight had stalled.

The source also informed our correspondent that the college had applied for permission to buy an engine for one of the fleet’s aircraft so that it could be recommissioned for flight, but as of the time this report was filed, the college had not received permission from the state government to do so.

According to the source, the college is currently floating. It doesn’t have a single plane to perform the necessary test flights for its trainee pilots. As outlined in the training handbook, this is what is typically done, but since that May 23 incident, it has been put on hold.

“A lot of students who are scheduled to take off are waiting because it’s unclear if trainer aircraft will be available. However, we are awaiting action from the state government to turn things around.

The lack of operational aircraft for the college was corroborated by another source, who also did not want his name to appear in print. However, he stated that the majority of the students are presently enrolled in ground school, thus the current situation has not halted their training.

Although we are not currently flying, the majority of the pupils are enrolled in ground school. When they’re done, they’ll take to the skies again. The source stated, “I am certain that aircraft will be available by the time we begin flying.”

Additionally, the assertion that the college lacked trainer aircraft was refuted by Mr. Ajape Abdullahi, the IAC Head of Training.

In a chat with our correspondent over the phone, Adbullahi stated that the college has been accepting and graduating students for the past two months in spite of the serious event involving its trainer plane.

He claims that three pilot students who successfully completed their CPL training were graduated by IAC in June.

Abdullahi informed our correspondent that before to their June graduation, the students completed their practical training aboard the Diamond DA 42 trainer aircraft of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), located in Zaria.

He added that there are currently around 35 pilot students enrolled in the college, including PPL and CPL enrolled in ground school.

He stated: “Diamond DA 42, which is multi-engine equipment, is the only aircraft that we do not currently have.” Remember that we have an agreement with NCAT called a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that allows us to trade equipment.

Our fleet currently consists of two Diamond DA 40 aircraft that are available for practical usage, typically during the last stages of our students’ education. We are still in ground school with our pilot pupils. After that, they will move on to the fly line.

Additionally, we provide our students with hands-on training through a functional simulator. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has accredited the simulator.

Although this is mostly dependent on student performance and weather conditions, the PPL’s maximum training period is six months, consisting of three months in ground school and an additional three months in the fly line. The typical length of time for the CPL is 18 months, which includes 16 weeks of ground school and weeks of fly line training.

Dr. Alex Nwuba, Vice President of the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI), commented on the problem, stating that the college’s inability to have operational aircraft will hinder the students’ ongoing education.

Nwuba recommended that the Kwara State government adequately fund the institution in order to save it from collapsing. He also mentioned that the administration might continue educating its student pilots by purchasing redundant aircraft at a reduced cost.

“It means that their education would be delayed,” he added. “This is common in our educational system, when pupils attend school for a set number of years but wind up staying longer for no fault of their own.

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The state government has the authority to step in if the college really does not have a trainer aircraft anymore. We ought to continue the college. To get things done, it just comes down to priority.

Additionally, the aviation industry analyst Engr. Chukwudi Amokwu suggested to the IAC management that its flying students be transferred to NCAT for fly line.

According to Amokwu, the college’s lack of trainer aircraft meant that “the flying school of the college is gone and it is the major school that sustains them.”

To be eligible for the PPL and CPL, you are required by law to have a specific number of hours. I believe the PPL has roughly six hours of flight time, while the CPL must have at least 200 hours.

Another option is to use a simulator to carry out the training. They can’t obtain a license without the airplane. Any flying school is built on that foundation,” he continued.

He encouraged the management to repair some of the fleet’s unusable aircraft for student training, explaining that bureaucracy may make it difficult for the institution to purchase a new trainer aircraft.

“They can still request permission from the NCAA to have Zaria instructors come and complete the training for them,” he continued.