Like Sirika, Keyamo tours Hungary, mulls local production of light aircraft

Akin to his predecessor in office, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, this week toured Magnus Aircraft manufacturing company in Hungary, in search of partnership for local assemblage and manufacturing of light aircraft in Nigeria.

Keyamo and his team, The Guardian learnt, were invited to the product introduction event of the Magnus Aircraft Group. The delegation, however, explored potential collaborations for staging the manufacturing and assemblage of the modern multipurpose aircraft in Nigeria.

About three years ago, the then Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, expressed the federal government’s readiness to partner Magnus aircraft manufacturing firm to establish an assembling plant and manufacture light airplanes locally.

Sirika committed after he paid an inspection visit to the Magnus Aircraft Industry in Pogany, Hungary. He said the goal was to assemble aircraft locally, from start to finish, and before the end of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Not giving up, Keyamo and his team rekindled interest in the old agenda following a tour of new equipment and facilities in Hungary. Member of the team, Tunde Moshood, stated that the delegation had the opportunity to tour various organisations in Hungary, including MouldTech Engineering and Military Equipment Factory. The company showcased its latest innovation, the Hungarian MF-212 multifunctional aircraft, designed for training and aerial surveillance purposes.

The visitors saw the prospect of integrating those aircraft into the training programmes for students at the Africa Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU) in Abuja.

The highlight of the visit was a meeting with Magnus Aircraft’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Boros Laszlo, who guided the delegation through the company’s state-of-the-art facilities. The tour covered the production line, assembly of composite parts, painting, aircraft parts assembly, engine installation, final quality checks, test flights, and quality handover.

The MF-212 is a two-seater low-wing aircraft made entirely of carbon composite materials, featuring a fixed non-retractable landing gear. With high aerobatic and operational characteristics, the aircraft can withstand an overload of +11.8/-6.3g, making it suitable for various applications.

Laszlo highlighted the aircraft’s unique safety features, including the use of normal petrol (PMS) as fuel and a ballistic recovery system. The parachute pack, situated in front of the cabin, adds an extra layer of safety.

The versatile MF-212 can be adapted for private use, business flights, training purposes, aerial surveillance, military pilot training, border monitoring, disaster management, agricultural observation, anti-terrorism, anti-piracy missions, and UAV applications.

Moshood said the minister and his team had a firsthand experience of capabilities of the MF-212 during test flights, “marking a significant milestone in potential collaborations between Nigeria and Magnus Aircraft.”

“The company’s establishment of an assembly plant in Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Nigeria, further solidifies the commitment to technology transfer and growth in the aviation sector,” he said.

He observed that Magnus had established a partnership with the Ministry of Aviation, Nigeria. A manufacturing factory in NCAT, Zaria, was commissioned on May 26, 2023. The collaboration includes training programmes for NCAT engineers on aircraft manufacture/assembly and type rating training for end-users such as the Nigerian Army, Air Force, and NSCDC Pilots and Engineers.

“The impact of this collaboration is already evident, with Magnus Aircraft products deployed for agricultural purposes by NALDA and utilised by NCAT for security and surveillance duties. Deliveries have also been made to Ghana, Morocco, Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa, showcasing the aircraft’s global relevance,” Moshood said.