Bell 212 choppers decommissioned

Faiq Airudin

BRUNEI-MUARA

Saturday, August 2, 2014

THE Royal Brunei Armed Forces has decommissioned its entire fleet of BELL 212 helicopters after 40 years of service, in a flyby ceremony yesterday commmencing from the Rimba Air Force Base.

Three Bell 212 helicopters took part in the flyby over the Royal Brunei Land Force Base, Royal Brunei Navy Forces base, Training Institute Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the Rimba Air Force Base.

 

Joining the flyby yesterday was Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) Commander Brigadier General (U) Hj Wardi Hj Abd Latip.

The decommissioning team was led by senior pilot Lt Col (U) Jasmin. Maj (U) Hishamuddin the outgoing Officer Commanding of No.1 Squadron and Maj (U) Hismawadi in his capacity as Officer Commanding Standard Squadron maintenance test pilot for Bell 212.

The aircraft departed from the Air Movement Centre (AMC) and returned to the centre after flying pass various bases.

On returning to the centre, the RBAirF commander delivered a closing speech and officially decommissioned the fleet of aircraft.

He noted that the aircraft started its services in 1974. Its early uses were to transport flying doctors from the Ministry of Health to rural areas in the country.

Since then, the fleet has clocked a total of 65,000 flying hours.

He added that the helicopter became known for its versatility and eventually became the “workhouse” for the RBAirF. The RBAirF commander had piloted the aircraft in early stages of his career.

Tasks performed by Bell 212 included search and rescue operations, provisions of suppression fire power, logistic delivery through abseiling or jungle line resupply.

The helicopter was also able to deliver troops inside confined areas using “multi-rope abseiling and fast roping for assaulting troops”, the commander added.

The aircraft is used in regionally and internationally for support during disasters.

According to Brigadier General (U) Hj Wardi, the helicopter was proven to be a “capable” aircraft to perform multi-tasking operations.

Forty-three personnel, including aircrew and engineering teams, worked on the twin-bladed helicopter when it was operational.

Some of the personnel in No 1 Squadron are already working on the new Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopters, while others are waiting to receive training for the new aircraft in the United States of America.

Later in the afternoon, the RBAirF held the first official task carried out by the S-70i aircraft.

It was previously reported that Sikorsky and the Ministry of Defence have signed a contract for the supply of 12 S-70i helicopters. Eight have already been delievered by Sikorsky. Four units are expected to be delievered to Brunei by the end of the year.

The Brunei Times

KDB Darussalam, KDB Darulaman berjaya di RIMPAC

Oleh: Siaran Akhbar Kementerian Pertahanan / ABDB

HAWAII, Isnin, 14 Julai. - KDB Darussalam dan KDB Darulaman, Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei (TLDB) telah membuktikan keupayaan melawan dengan menembak sistem peluru berpandu buat kali pertama.

Kedua kapal kelas peronda itu telah berjaya menjalankan latihan penembakan peluru berpandu permukaan ke permukaan Exocet MM40 Block II di Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), 80 batu nautika utara Pulau Kaua'i.

Melalui Siaran Akhbar Kementerian Pertahanan ke Pelita Brunei bahawa Kapal-kapal TLDB itu menyertai Rim Latihan Multinasional Pertama di Pasifik (RIMPAC) yang dianjurkan oleh Fleet Ketiga Tentera Laut Amerika Syarikat di Hawaii selama sebulan.

KDB Darussalam dan KDB Darulaman mengambil bahagian dalam latihan 'Sink' (SINKEX) dengan negara-negara lain yang mengambil bahagian melepaskan peluru berpandu permukaan Exocet di sekitar jam 0920 (waktu tempatan 0320h).

Kedua-dua peluru berpandu telah dilancarkan dengan jayanya ke arah sasaran yang dimaksudkan pada masa yang sama pada jarak kira-kira 40 batu nautika.

Tembakan taktikal adalah bertujuan untuk mencapai keupayaan operasi penuh kapal kelas rondaan  KDB Darussalam, setelah selesai penglibatan peluru berpandu, kedua-dua kapal kembali ke Pearl Harbor untuk mengisi minyak sebelum menyertai latihan fasa laut seterusnya dengan Pasukan Petugas 175 pada 18 Julai lalu.

Pegawai dan anak-anak kapal telah bekerja tanpa mengenal penat lelah untuk memenuhi semua keperluan serta memastikan kapal itu kekal pada penyelenggaraan tahap tertinggi. Mereka telah membuktikan diri mereka boleh berurusan dengan evolusi itu dan dengan melengkapkan latihan itu. KDB Darussalam dan KDB Darulaman menambah pencapaian lain yang ketara dalam keupayaan operasinya dan menandakan satu lagi pencapaian penting bagi TLDB.

Selain daripada mencapai keupayaan operasi, meningkatkan kepercayaan dan keyakinan di kalangan tentera laut dunia, membina keupayaan juga telah dicapai. Membina keupayaan membuktikan untuk menjadi dogma yang sesuai dalam menghalang dan menentang untuk sebarang cabaran maritim. 

Kawasan keselamatan seperti RIMPAC 2014 memang memperuntukkan peluang dan TLDB pasti mendapat manfaat daripada pengalaman dan acara penting itu.

Menyaksikan latihan tembakan peluru hidup berpandu ialah Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan Negara Brunei Darussalam, Yang Mulia Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat, diiringi oleh Pemerintah TLDB, Laksamana Pertama Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit.

Latihan RIMPAC masih diteruskan dan akan berakhir pada 30 Julai ini, kedua-dua kapal TLDB dijadual berlepas ke Hawaii pada 4 Ogos nanti untuk belayar kembali ke Negara Brunei Darussalam.

Di kesempatan itu, satu majlis pengagihan kurma yang dikurniakan oleh Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam sempena bulan Ramadan juga telah diadakan untuk pegawai-pegawai dan anggota-anggota kedua buah kapal.

Pengagihan kurma telah disampaikan oleh Pemerintah TLDB, Laksamana Pertama Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit.