Rimba Air Force Base, Thursday, 10 February 2022 – Major General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Hamzah Bin Haji Sahat, Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), made a farewell visit to the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) at Rimba Air Force Base, in accordance to the COVID-19 guidelines by the Ministry of Health.
Upon arrival at the RBAirF Headquarters, the Commander of RBAF was greeted by the RBAirF Commander, Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Mohammad Sharif bin Dato Paduka Haji Ibrahim and received an Honorary Salute where he inspected a Guard of Honor consisting of RBAirF personnel. Also in attendance were the RBAF Commander’s delegation and the RBAirF Board of Executives
The visit then commenced with a tree planting ceremony in the premises of the RBAirF Headquarters, a tradition long held by the RBAirF in conjunction with farewell visits of RBAF Commanders to the base. Next, the RBAF Commander officiated the opening of the Luagan Simpur Park, which is an outdoor recreation area that also has a trekking path. This was followed by a brief visit to the AACC Mini Park that was officiated when the RBAirF hosted the 2019 ASEAN Air Chiefs’ Conference during the RBAF Commander’s tenure as RBAirF Commander.
The RBAF Commander then proceeded with a get together and interaction session with RBAirF Headquarters and No. 7 Wing Personnel at the RBAirF Gymnasium, before joining the Operations and Support Group for a similar engagement at Hangars A and B.
The grand finale of the visit was held at the Air Movement Centre. The RBAirF Commander first delivered his speech where he expressed gratitude and appreciation to the RBAF Commander for his guidance and imparting of knowledge throughout his Air Force days as well as during his current tenure as RBAF Commander. He reminisced the achievements that the RBAF Commander has recorded throughout his illustrious career and the example he has set for the officers and personnel of the RBAirF to emulate. This was followed by a presentation of mementos from officers, personnel and the civilians working with the RBAirF.
He was then invited to deliver his speech, which was also livestreamed to the other personnel of the RBAirF who were not physically present at the AMC. In his speech, the RBAF Commander expressed his appreciation to all ranks of the RBAirF for the event. He then emphasized on the matters of professionalism, religious values and always remembering the roles and responsibilities of the armed forces towards national security. He also shared on the upcoming RBAirF capabilities that are due to arrive in the next few years. Next, the RBAF Commander was escorted to the AMC apron for a group photo. The group picture was in the formation of the Hawk Fighter Aircraft, one that the RBAF Commander was qualified to pilot.
The official luncheon was also held in the AMC, and was proceeded with the signing of the commemorative parchment, before commencing with the farewell flight which include the aerial view of Bukit Agok, Rimba Air Force Base and Berakas Garrison, which brought the official farewell visit to a conclusion. The visit also saw a historic moment when for the first time in the RBAirF’s prestigious history, the flight (farewell flight) was operated by an all-female crew.
LAWATAN PERPISAHAN DARI PEMERINTAH ANGKATAN BERSENJATA DIRAJA BRUNEI KE TENTERA UDARA DIRAJA BRUNEI
Pangkalan Tentera Udara Rimba, Khamis, 10 February 2022 –Mejar Jeneral (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sahat, Pemerintah Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei telah membuat Lawatan Perpisahan ke Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei (TUDB) yang bertempat di Pangkalan Tentera Udara Rimba, menurut garispanduan yang ditetapkan oleh Kementerian Kesihatan.
Ketibaan beliau di Markas TUDB telah disambut oleh Brigedier Jeneral (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Mohammad Sharif bin Dato Paduka Haji Ibrahim, Pemerintah Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei. Beliau seterusnya menerima Tabik Hormat dan memeriksa Kawalan Kehormatan yang terdiri dari Pegawai serta anggota-anggota TUDB. Turut hadir adalah rombongan Pemerintah ABDB dan Badan Eksekutif TUDB.
Lawatan seterusnya diikuti dengan acara menanam pokok di perkarangan Markas TUDB, yang merupakan salah satu tradisi TUDB pada setiap lawatan perpisahan Pemerintah-Pemerintah ABDB. Ini diikuti dengan perasmian Taman Luagan Simpur yang merupakan kawasan riadah yang juga mempunyai laluan trek. Seterusnya Pemerintah ABDB dibawa untuk melawat ke Taman Mini AACC, iaitu sebuah taman kenangan yang dibuka semasa TUDB menghos Persidangan Ketua-Ketua Tentera Udara ASEAN pada tahun 2019, iaitu semasa Pemerintah ABDB memegang tampuk kepimpinan TUDB.
Pemerintah ABDB kemudian dijemput ke Dewan Gerak Badan bagi Acara Ramah Mesra bersama Pegawai-Pegawai serta anggota-anggota Markas TUDB dan Cawangan No. 7. Bagi Acara Ramah Mesra bersama Kumpulan Gerakan dan Bantu, ianya telah diadakan di Hangar A dan B.
Acara kemuncak lawatan tersebut dikendalikan di Pusat Pergerakan Udara. Acara dimulakan dengan penyampaian ucapan dari Pemerintah TUDB di mana beliau menyatakan terima kasih dan penghargaan kepada Pemerintah ABDB di atas bimbingan dan perkongsian pengetahuan di sepanjang khidmatnya di TUDB serta sebagai Pemerintah ABDB. Beliau juga mengimbas Kembali pencapaian-pencapaian yang diperolehi oleh Pemerintah ABDB sepanjang perkhidmatan beliau yang patut dicontohi oleh pegawai-pegawai serta anggota-anggota TUDB. Ini diikuti oleh penyampaian cenderahati dari pegawai-pegawai, anggota dan juga kakitangan awam TUDB.
Pemerintah ABDB kemudian dijemput untuk menyampaikan ucapan beliau, dimana beliau menyatakan penghargaan di atas acara yang telah diungkayahkan sempena perpisahannya. Pemerintah ABDB kemudian menenkankan kepentingan aspek-aspek profesionalisme dan kerohanian serta sentiasa mengingati peranan dan tanggungjawab sebagai seorang anggota tentera dalam menjaga keselamatan negara. Beliau juga mengongsikan tentang keupayaan dan aset yang bakal diterima oleh TUDB di masa yang terdekat. Seterusnya, beliau dijemput untuk bergambar ramai di apron PPU. Formasi yang dibentuk semasa bergambar ramai adalah pesawat pejuang Hawk, dimana Pemerintah ABDB sendiri layak untuk menerbangkan.
Makan Tengahari rasmi juga diadakan di PPU, yang diikuti dengan penandatanganan lembaran kenangan. Lawatan diakhiri dengan Pemerintah ABDB menaiki pesawat Blackhawk S70i untuk farewell flight yang juga diteruskan dengan aerial view di Bukit Agok, Pangkalan Tentera Udara Rimba dan Berakas Garrison. Lawatan tersebut juga telah menyaksikan saat yang bersejarah di mana buat julung kalinya dalam sejarah TUDB yang berprestij, penerbangan (farewell flight) tersebut telah dikendalikan sepenuhnya oleh kru penerbangan wanita.
