Bandar Seri Begawan, February 15 (AseanAll) — On 14 February 2024 , Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam graced the Introduction to Service Ceremony for two of the four newly acquired C295MW aircraft for the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) held at Rimba Air Force Base.
The Introduction to Service of the first two C295MW aircraft was from the recent proceedings following His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, after gracing the Aircraft Arrival Ceremony at the Rimba Air Force Base on 24 January 2024.
Accompanying the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam to the Introduction to Service Ceremony was His Royal Highness 920 Major (U) Prince 'Abdul Mateen ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah.
Upon arrival, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was greeted by Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Retired) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd. Yussof, Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Defence II, Yang Mulia Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan, Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) and Yang Mulia Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Mohd Sharif bin Dato Paduka Haji Ibrahim, Commander of the RBAirF.
Also present at the ceremony were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Service Commander, Acting Service Commander, Acting Joint Force Commander (JFC) RBAF, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Senior officers of the RBAF, and delegation from Airbus Defence and Space led by Mr Oscar Alonso, Head of Sales Air Power.
The ceremony began with the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam being escorted to the Military Apron of Hangar B where His Majesty received the Royal Salute and inspected the Guard of Honour, comprising 103 RBAirF personnel and the RBAF Band, led by the Parade Commander, Major (U) Muhammad Izdihar bin Haji Imran.
The Sultan then delivered a Titah to officiate the Introduction to Service of the two C295MW aircraft. This was followed by the recitation of Selawat and Doa Selamat, led by Commander Haji Ainolnizam bin Haji Ibrahim, Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), Director of the Religious Department RBAF (JAMA'AT). The ceremonial proceedings continued with His Majesty’s signing of a plaque to mark the inauguration.
The Sultan was ushered to view the two C295MW aircraft, designated as ‘TUDB 502’ and ‘TUDB 503’, and introduced to the members of the project team involved in the aircraft procurement project including RBAirF pilots, aircrews and engineers. His Majesty was then invited for a group photo session and was presented with a pesambah before proceeding to the Air Movement Centre.
Upon arrival at the Air Movement Centre, the Sultan received a flight and safety brief from Major (U) Mohammad Adieb bin Abdul Rahman, Officer Commanding 15 Squadron before boarding and piloted the C295MW TUDB 502 aircraft.
Upon landing, The Sultan proceeded for the Royal Luncheon at the Air Movement Centre. He was then invited to sign the Royal Parchment before departing the Rimba Air Force Base.
The ceremony was held to officiate the C295MW Transport Aircraft Capability into service for the RBAirF following its arrival on 24 January 2024. Its pilots and aircrews will begin training in the Southeast Asian region in preparation for various strategic and tactical transport missions at the regional and international levels including Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, Medical Evacuations (MEDEVAC), Aeromedical Evacuations (AE) and Search and Rescue (SAR) operations. The aircrafts are capable of fulfilling various roles including Troop and Cargo Transport, VIP Transport, Freefall, Airborne Static Jumps and Cargo Drop.
The procurement and the introduction of the C295MW aircraft into the RBAirF’s fleet is an important historical chapter for the development of RBAirF in particular, and RBAF in general, in its effort to strengthen RBAirF’s capability to carry out missions for the nation, as well as regionally and internationally.
