PH Air Force pilots start Black Hawk training in Brunei
MANILA, Philippines—Philippine Air Force (PAF) pilots have started S-70i Sikorsky Black Hawk flight simulator training in Brunei, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
The training started last Dec. 3 at the Canadian Aviation Electronics Brunei Multi-Purpose Training Centre.
“This is a milestone in our bilateral defense relations with Brunei,” said Pete Raymond Delfin, chargé d affaires of the Philippine embassy in 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,” Delfin said.
“It opens up more opportunities for PAF pilots and allows greater interaction and exchanges between our armed forces,” he said.
The PAF and the Royal Brunei Air Force signed an agreement for more exchanges earlier this year, as part of the continuing implementation of a bilateral MOU on Defense Cooperation signed in 2001.
Under a multi-year contract, future batches of PAF pilots will participate in the program in the next few years.
The PAF currently has 15 Black Hawk combat utility helicopters in its fleet. On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced that the budget department has allocated funding for the acquisition of 32 more helicopters.
