Launch of Black Hawk Training in Brunei for PH Air Force
Philippine Chargé d’Affaires to Brunei Pete Delfin (front 3rd from right) and Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Colonel Angelo Gerard P. Ariles (front 1st from left) in a group photo with RBAirF Ops Group Commander Colonel (U) Hismawadi Bin Hj Mohammad Said, (front 1st from right), CAE-BMPTC General Manager Mr. Rozman Junaidi (front 2nd from right) and the Philippine Airforce (PAF) pilots Cpt. John Rendle S. Pasion and Cpt. Peter Paul D. Castillo (back row). (Brunei PE photo)
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 06 December 2021 – The S-70i Black Hawk flight simulator training for pilots of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) was launched on 03 December 2021 at the Canadian Aviation Electronics (CAE) Brunei Multi-Purpose Training Centre (BMPTC).
The launching ceremony for the training was attended by Chargé d’Affaires (CDA) of the Philippine Embassy in Brunei, Minister Pete Raymond V. Delfin, Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Colonel Angelo Gerard P. Ariles, RBAirF Ops Group Commander Colonel (U) Hismawadi Bin Hj Mohammad Said, Lt. Col (U) Muhammad Walee Bin Hj Roslie and CAE-BMPTC General Manager Mr. Rozman Junaidi.
During the simple ceremony, Colonel Said welcomed the Philippine Air Force pilots and expressed the continued support of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, the Royal Brunei Air Force in particular, for future collaborative training.
CDA Delfin expressed appreciation to the Brunei Government for its active engagement and valuable support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“This is a milestone in our bilateral defense relations with Brunei. Notwithstanding the strong and dynamic defense cooperation between our countries, the program represents a practical option for S-70i Black Hawk training as PAF pilots need not proceed outside the ASEAN region. It opens up more opportunities for PAF pilots and allows greater interaction and exchanges between our Armed Forces.” the Chargé d’Affaires said.
An agreement was inked earlier this year between the PAF and the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF), as part of the continuing implementation of a bilateral MOU on Defense Cooperation signed in 2001.
CDA Pete Delfin also conveyed his appreciation to Dato Sharif for the valuable assistance of providing the Instructor Pilots for the PAF trainees as well as the opportunity to share the “best practices” in the utilization and maintenance of the S-70i Black Hawk aircrafts.
The first batch of Philippine Air Force personnel arrived in Brunei on 08 November 2021. The Flight Simulator Training will be done in six batches starting 16 November and will conclude on 27 December 2021.
The training of the PAF pilots in Brunei is not only cost effective due to the proximity of the sultanate, but also demonstrates good regional partnership with a fellow ASEAN member state. Under a multi-year contract, subsequent batches of PAF pilots will participate in the program in the next few years.
The Black Hawk training facility in Brunei was established as a joint venture of Canadian Aviation Electronics Ltd. of Canada and the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Brunei Darussalam.
The CAE 3000 Series S-70i simulator located at CAE-BMPTC provides an immersive experience for the full range of pilot training requirements for the S-70i Black Hawk. END
Philippine Air Force pilots, Cpt. John Rendle S. Pasion and Cpt. Peter Paul D. Castillo at the S-70i Black Hawk Flight Simulator deck (Brunei PE photo)
Chargé d’Affaires Minister Pete. Delfin and Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Colonel Angelo Gerard P. Ariles in a tour of the CAE Brunei Multi-Purpose Training Centre (BMPTC) as well as the CAE 3000 Series S-70i simulator. (Brunei PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.bruneipe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philippine-embassybrunei.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHinBrunei/ or https://twitter.com/PHinBrunei