In 2012 I travelled to Nigeria at the invitation of the Nigerian Air Force International Helicopter Flying School (IHFS) based in Enugu.
IHFS is the first helicopter pilot training institution in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
This unique Joint Venture initiative is a versatile tool for the enhancement of civil-military cooperation.
Their preferred flight training platform was to be the Robinson R66 and I had the honour of assisting them in assembling the first three R66s, putting them on line and then conducting an EASA Part 147 Approved R66 and RR300 engine type training course.
Fast forward eleven years and I had the further honour of being invited back to IHFS to conduct an RHC Factory Approved R66 maintenance course and RR300 engine training course.
What remarkable progress had been made in those eleven years; they had progressed from a fledgling flying school and maintenance facility into an extremely professionally operated facility.
I had the pleasure of meeting some of the technicians who had attended my original EASA course and who were now attending the Factory course.
They are some of the most experienced R66 maintenance technicians that you will find.
They do a splendid job maintaining the fleet and thus enabling their R66s to accumulate, what I understand to be, the most hours flown on an R66 anywhere in the world.
The current training team:
Head of Training – Air vice Marshal Ayo Jolasinmi
Rector – Unyimeobong Okon Udoeyop
CFI – Kelechi Nwagba
On this occasion, getting to their school in Enugu was not as smooth as my first visit, as a delayed arrival flight resulted in me missing my internal flight.
However, their professionalism kicked in and they managed to get me on an internal flight to Port Harcourt, from where they sent an R66 to pick me up and fly me to their base.
This event created a ‘first’ for me as it put me in the back seat of an R66 for the very first time!
This allowed me the opportunity to observe one of the school’s flight instructors and their student’s navigational exercise skills, as well as giving me an insight into the maintenance team’s tracking and balancing skills…vibration levels.
The R66 flew very smoothly even though the team up front had some poor weather challenges to navigate which worsened as we approached Enugu.
There were some very high pylons crisscrossing the inbound flight path, however, it was quite clear that the instructor had been briefed that I was apparently of some value (until successful completion of the course) and flew with great caution; all in all, an excellent nav’ exercise, well executed and thankfully not electrocuted, in an exceedingly nice example of a smooth R66.
During my time at IHFS I also had the pleasure of presenting my ‘Aircraft Limitations’ Tea and Biscuit presentation to the instructors and students in their modern and well equipped main event briefing room that must seat circa 40 students.
My understanding is that IHFS have flown more flight time in the R66 than any other operator in the world, by a country mile.
These are some statistics from their operation in Enugu:
The number of years IHFS has been operating – 11
The number of R66’s operated by the school – 4
Number of courses completed to date – 16
Average number of students per course – 20 (the student will complete their PPL and then continue and complete their CPL)
Number of flight instructors – 12
Number of maintenance staff – 11
Average monthly hours flown – 243.66 hours
Number of R66’s that have completed their 2000 hour inspection – 4
Number of R66’s that have completed their second 2000 hour inspection – 1
Number of R66’s that are about to complete their second 2000 hour inspection – 1
Hours flown by registration:
5N-GAJ – 4022.65
5N-MDU – 2991.05
5N-OOP – 4833.4
5N-ANA – 2559.89
Total Time:
14406.99 accident free hours
A quite remarkable number of hours for which RHC have already sent IHFS a letter of congratulations.
This is made even more remarkable by the incredible reliability of the R66 as experienced by the school…it needing not much more than fuel and oil!
The maintenance team have completed the 2000 hour and second hour inspections onsite, proving the concept of the 2000 hour inspection kit supplied to the operator to be another typical RHC solution to ‘keep it simple’.
These statistics are a superb testament to the Robinson R66’s unequalled simplistic design, which enhances its reliability, ease of maintenance and, in this case, makes it a perfect training platform.
It is also a testament to the in-flight student, instructor handling and flight safety qualities of the R66, which are often criticised, proving that if operated within the manufactures operating limitations, the R66 is as safe as any other helicopter.
I would like to add my congratulations to all the staff at the IHFS and wish them continued success with their R66s.
You have shown the world your great professionalism, thank you.
Knowledge is flight safety helping to keep your rpm in the green.
This is a ‘Tea and Biscuit’ production®.
