Today Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Pilot’s operated the Dornier Do228 maritime patrol aircraft for the first time.
MNDF acquired the single Dornier Do-228 Maritime Patrol aircraft from India in September 2020.
Since it’s arrival the aircraft was operated by the Indian Navy pilots and is primarily used for medicav flights, search and rescue flights, etc.
In the 29th Dornier Operational Flying Training (DOOFT) program, three Maldivian MNDF pilots successfully completed the Co-pilot conversion course graduating as ‘Fully Operational MR Pilots’.
The MNDF pilots undertook three months of ground training at the School for Naval Airmen and Naval Institute of Aeronautical Technology and underwent Co-pilot conversion at INAS 550.
The graduation ceremony took place on 20th August 2021 where Commodore VB Bellary, Commanding Officer INS Garuda who was the Chief Guest of the event awarded certificates to the graduates.
In the past it was NSS (former MNDF) that first sponsored locals in the 1970s that trained the very first commercial pilots in the nation who are still active in the aviation industry in the Maldives today.
Comments