Following the conclusion of their training, two Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) pilots have officially begun to operate the India-donated Dornier aircraft, which was flown by Indians.
First Lieutenant Ibrahim Shareef and Lieutenant Ahmed Ali were designated as the Maldivian military’s first pilots.
Major General Abdulla Shamaal, Chief of Defense Force, presented the pilots with MNDF Coast Guard Aviation Squadron badges during a special event on Tuesday.
The pilots flew the Dornier aircraft for the first time on Tuesday, in what Major General Shamaal described as a “historic moment.”
“We extend our sincere thanks to the Indian armed forces for training our pilots in such useful and versatile aerial platforms,” he added.
According to MNDF, four of its pilots passed the Dornier conversion course this year, allowing them to fly as co-pilots on Dornier aircraft.
