The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has begun its 2022 S-70i Black Hawk flight simulator training at CAE’s Brunei Multi-Purpose Training Centre (BMPTC). The training programme for the first batch of PAF pilots commenced on 29 August and will be held in fourteen batches, concluding on 19 November. 

The Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to Brunei Darussalam Her Excellency Marian Jocelyn R Tirol-Ignacio who was present at the commencement ceremony for S-70i flight training at CAE BMPTC said, "The programme represents a practical option for S-70i Black Hawk training as PAF pilots need not proceed to outside the ASEAN region. It opens up more opportunities for PAF pilots and allows greater interaction and exchanges between our Armed Forces.” 

The PAF and Royal Brunei Air Force had inked the S-70i training agreement in 2021, as part of the continuing implementation of a bilateral MOU on Defence Cooperation signed in 2001. 

The PAF trained 11 of its pilots at CAE’s BMPTC last year and under the terms of the multi-year contract, subsequent batches of PAF pilots will participate in the programme in the next few years.

The Royal Brunei Air Force is providing instructor pilots for the PAF trainees as well as sharing lessons learnt and best practises gained during its own utilization and maintenance of S70i Black Hawk helicopters.

The PAF has a total of 48 S-70i’s on order, split into batches – 16 S-70is were ordered in 2019 and another 32 helicopters were ordered in February this year.