SAF to receive Dornier 228 aircraft |27 April 2013

The Seychelles Air Force (SAF) had been hard at work preparing for the handover and SAF Commander, Major Michael Pouponneau, has said this will be a major boost for the maritime patrol capacity of the air force, which was previously known as the SPDF Air Wing.

The government of India agreed to provide Seychelles with a once-off grant of US $28.79 million for the supply of the maritime aircraft under a memorandum of agreement signed on December 9, 2011.

Technical help from the manufacturers will also be provided for at least the next six months.

The Dornier 228 is a twin-engine short take-off and landing quick-change capability aircraft which can be utilised for cargo lifting, troop transport, aerial survey, military maritime patrols, fishery patrols and maritime pollution surveillance.

The Dornier 228 was ferry flight -- which is the technical term for delivering a new aircraft from its place of manufacture to its destination -- from India on April 22 by two Indian pilots from Dornier manufacturers Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (Hal).

Four Seychellois pilots have already been to Hal’s main headquarters in Kanpur, India for flight crew training, and two pilots completed flight conversion training for the Dornier during their visit.

The remaining two are expected to complete their flight conversion training locally at a later date.

Additionally, a team of 12 SAF technicians will be leaving for India in May to receive type training conversion, which includes familiarisation with Dornier systems, maintenance procedures, ground service equipment and general handling equipment familiarisation.

Upon completion of the training, they will work alongside the Indian deputation and do a small transition whereby the SAF will take over the ownership operations and maintenance of the aircraft.

Since February 2011, the Indian government has helped Seychelles with the use of a similar aircraft, based in Seychelles, along with a 30-man Indian Navy detachment, to help patrol the Seychelles’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for anti-piracy efforts at the request of President James Michel.

The mission has proven successful at discouraging piracy, as the double-engine Dornier aircraft comes equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry, loud-hailers, radar equipment and night-vision cameras.

The Indian crew and aircraft are expected to return to India once the SAF pilots have received sufficient training and technical support to maintain the anti-piracy operations on their own.

India and Seychelles have a long history of defence cooperation, including the previous donation of patrol ship Topaz currently in use by the Seychelles Coast Guard and have proactively cooperated in the fight against piracy.