Nigeria’s Elin Air and Aviation Services Limited recently made history by becoming the first aviation service provider in the country to complete a 7,800 landings maintenance check on a Bombardier Challenger CL604 aircraft.
This check was outsourced to foreign Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in the past, but on June 23, 2025, Nigerian engineers did this inspection locally at Elin Air’s hangar. It showed that Nigeria has the talent, infrastructure, and technical skills to carry out intricate aviation projects at world-class standards.
“The 7800 landings feat achieved by Elin Air is the first in Africa, not just Nigeria, and we are proud that it was done on Nigerian soil,” Elin Air CEO Dr. Elizabeth Jack-Rich said to Business Insider Africa. “To us, this milestone is not just a technical achievement; it’s a statement of possibility. Completing the 7,800 landings check locally demonstrates that Nigeria possesses the talent, infrastructure, and discipline to deliver complex aviation projects to the highest international standards.
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“For Elin Air, it reinforces our brand promise: operational excellence rooted in African capability. For the wider industry, it serves as a proof of concept that we can reduce our dependence on foreign facilities, keep revenue within the country, and inspire the next generation of aviation professionals.”
Elin Air’s 7,800 landings check involved a complete structural and system overhaul requiring over 6,000 man-hours, similar to a commercial “D check”.
While carrying out the 7800 landings inspection from April to June 2025, Elin Air engineers had to remove almost all of the main aircraft parts and components like engines, fuel tanks, APU, thrust reversers, and flight control systems.
The company further conducted the required 600 and 1,200-hour checks while completing a full cabin refurbishment, and all these maintenance works met international best practices.
Engr. Benjamin Dzer (Director of Maintenance) and Engr. Florence Bitrus-Opeyemi (Director of Quality and Safety) were key leaders in the project. They were supervised by Engr. Dr. Benedict Adeyileka, and interestingly, all those who worked on the project were Nigerian.
“We never doubted we could do this,” said Engr. Dr. Adeyileka, Executive Director of Elin Group Limited. “It took meticulous planning and strict adherence to global maintenance standards, but today we’ve shown that with Nigerian talent and determination, we can deliver at world-class levels.”
Jack-Rich said that by entrusting local engineers and technicians with this project, her company allowed them to demonstrate their competence on a global stage. “It was also a deliberate stand: to demonstrate that with the right training, leadership, and resources, Nigerian professionals can meet and even surpass global standards,” she said.
She also spoke about some of the challenges they faced. “The challenges were real: sourcing specialized parts under tight timelines, navigating the learning curve of a complex check, and ensuring every detail met global compliance standards. We addressed these challenges through collaboration and adaptability, building strong supply chain relationships for quicker parts delivery, conducting intensive cross-departmental training sessions, and maintaining a zero-compromise approach to safety.”
Elin Air’s feat comes on the back of recent achievements in Nigeria’s aviation industry, including the signing of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA), the return of Emirates Airlines, and the reactivation of the previously dormant Lagos Airport’s second runway (18R), according to the Vanguard.
It also follows the sector’s improved compliance with the Cape Town Convention (CTC), which resulted in the country’s removal from the Aviation Working Group (AWG) watchlist, the outlet added.
Elin Air’s next major maintenance project is scheduled for November 2025 as the company continues to work to shape the future of aviation in Nigeria and Africa.
“Five years from now, I want Elin Air to be remembered as the company that not only met, but also set, global aviation standards in Africa,” said Jack-Rich. “I want our legacy to be a combination of safety, excellence, and transformation, hundreds of highly skilled professionals trained, thousands of safe flights completed, and Nigeria positioned as a respected name in international aviation.”
