The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology is a higher education institute in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. It is funded by the Civil Aviation Department in the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Aviation. Formerly known as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Training Centre, the school was established in 1964. It has a fleet of about 25 training aircraft. As of 2010, about 6,500 students had graduated from the college, which offers course in flying, aircraft maintenance, air traffic control and aeronautical telecommunications.[1] Chief Dayo Abatan was appointed Chairman of the college in February 2009.[2] In 2010, the college was seeking to become a Degree awarding institution through affiliation with a foreign University.[3]
A Nigerian domestic airline, Arik Air, started a scholarship plan in October 2006 for training pilots and aircraft engineers. The first 15 students for the Standard Pilot Course were to graduate in November 2008.[4] The World Bank tendered for a study on equipment, infrastructure and training needs for the college in November 2008, a preliminary step before allocating funding.[5] As of 2009 although the college undertook initial training of commercial pilots, courses in learning to fly new aircraft types and refresher courses were mostly done outside Nigeria.[6] In January 2010 the president of Aviation Round Table, Captain Dele Ore, called for increased funding for the college so it could meet its statutory obligations.[7]
In July 2008, a trainer jet missed the runway and crashed into the fence. The pilot was injured, and the jet slightly damaged. Another incident had occurred in 2005.[8]