Gov. Sanwo-Olu unveils Caverton’s AW 109 helicopter simulator

The Leonardo AW 109 Level 5 Simulator was introduced on Thursday at the Caverton Helicopters Aviation Training Centre located at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos by the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

During his speech, Sanwo-Olu praised the management and Aderemi Makanjuola, the founder and chairman of Caverton, for their efforts in creating jobs and boosting the Nigerian economy.

“Baba could have locked up what God has given him and not invested it,” stated Sanwo-Olu.

The governor praised Makanjuola for his enormous achievements and said that he had stayed in a unique area with the type of business he was conducting with Caverton.

The fact that we can actually have aircraft maintenance at this highest calibre, all tucked away discreetly in Lagos, without much fanfare, makes my heart happy. I believed that to be it. Now, to enter a facility with top-notch simulators where we can retrain, train, and certify pilots at different grades. It is, in my opinion, an investment. We have to give Caverton’s leadership credit for being so bold and for making these wise decisions.

Today, the Leonardo AW109 simulator, a brand-new simulator, was unveiled and put into service. This is my second visit to a foreign simulator, and I can assure you that they don’t get any better than this. It is authentic and equipped with every convenience found in an aeroplane. Caverton is stopping capital flight with this audacious move because all of the training can be completed locally, he claimed.

Sanwo-Olu claims that this innovation will increase the number of skilled workers and military and commercial operators who visit a facility like this to receive the necessary training.  “Training that was previously done overseas is now created in our nation and in Lagos. And I want to call on everyone involved in this sector to come together and back such investments.

Let’s make sure that we don’t need to travel overseas for any of the training we need. Everything is available at our facilities and locations in Lagos. Additionally, I want to praise Caverton’s management and leadership,” the governor said.

He also complimented the business on all levels of its safety standards.

Olabode Makanjuola, the company’s chief executive officer, had earlier stated, “Today is a special day for us as we welcome you all to the launch of Caverton’s AW109 simulator,” in his welcome speech.

We are pleased to present Caverton’s second simulator, which is devoted to assisting Nigerian pilots and the nation’s rotary wing industry. This marks a noteworthy turning point in the development of aviation training in Nigeria. Our first, a full-reality AW 139 simulator, allows us to train our pilots in a realistic and thorough manner, guaranteeing the highest levels of operational excellence and safety.

Our dedication to improving our pilots’ abilities and guaranteeing the highest levels of safety and proficiency in aviation operations is demonstrated by the brand-new AW109 simulator.

Makanjuola asserts that the AW109 helicopter is an essential component of Nigeria’s aerospace ecosystem, serving as a tool for important organisations like the Air Force, Navy, NIMASA, and several private operators.

He said that Caverton’s purchase of the cutting-edge simulator demonstrated the company’s commitment to developing an innovative and high-achieving culture within the Nigerian aviation sector.

“By giving our pilots access to advanced training resources, we are not only raising the bar for safety and operational effectiveness but also establishing Nigeria as a regional centre for state-of-the-art aviation training and expertise,” Makanjuola continued.

Additional well-wishers at the event included Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the Deputy Governor of Lagos, and Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, the Chief of the Naval Staff, who was represented by Rear Admiral Bolaji Orederu.