The Royal Brunei Air Force was involved in several events, beginning with the VIP Flight involving Rear Admiral Murray Joe Tynch, Commander Logistics Group Western Pacific, Task Force 73, Singapore Area Coordinator. The flight took place from Air Movement Centre, Rimba towards Temburong district and is aimed at strengthening relationships with the US Navy. A USN P-8A fixed wing aircraft was also involved in Distinguished Visitor (DV) and media flights from AMC.
Royal Brunei Air Force was further involved on 29th October with a shore to ship MedEvac followed by cross deck landings on the USS Montgomery followed by a PhotoEx by providing aerial photography capability using the Blackhawk S70i. The objective of the cross deck landings was to train on deck landing for both the US Navy Ship crew as well as the aircrew on board the Blackhawk.
In the final day of the phase, a Man Over Board Exercise (MOBEx) was carried out by the ships with air support coming in the form an S70i and SAR crew to retrieve the casualty in the water. Together with the S70i, the USS Montgomery and MH-60 helicopter was on scene for the coordinated rescue. The aim of the MOBEx conducted was to exercise multi aircraft operations and communication as well as to carry out correct procedures when performing a SAR sortie. The SAREX concluded with the casualty being airlifteb back to shore for further medical attention.
Apart from flying activities, a Subject Matter Expert Exchange Symposium on Corrosion was carried out by aircraft maintainers from both armed forces at AMC. The symposium included briefs from both parties and was concluded with a visit to Hangar A to have a look at the corrosion affected Helicopters. On the final day, SAR pool drills were conducted by the USN personnel at the Muara Base swimming pool and attended by Royal Brunei Navy as well as Royal Brunei Air Force water rescuers.
The closing ceremony for Ex CARAT 2019 was held at Multi National Coordination Centre, Muara Base jointly hosted by USN and JFHQ. Both countries look forward to the next edition and take lessons from this year's exercise to further enhance operations within the respective armed forces.
ANGKATAN BERSENJATA DIRAJA BRUNEI MENJALANI EKSESAIS CARAT 2019
PANGKALAN UDARA RIMBA, Selasa, 22 Oktober 2019 – Edisi ke 25 Eksesais
Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) di antara Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB) dan Tentera Laut Amerika Syarikat (TLAS) telah dijalankan dari 07 hingga 31 Oktober 2019. Eksesais tersebut meliputi latihan hutan, operasi di laut serta operasi ketenteraan di kawasan bandar bertujuan untuk mengukuhkan lagi hubungan erat serta kerjasama di antara dua Negara-Negara terbabit.
Selepas pembukaan rasmi, Rear Admiral Murray Joe Tynch, Pemerintah Kumpulan Lojistik Pasifik Barat,
Task Force 73, Koordinator Kawasan Singapura, menaiki pesawat Blackhawk S70i bagi penerbangan VIP dari Kawasan Pangkalan Udara Rimba ke Daerah Temburong melalui Teluk Brunei. Pesawat P-8A TLAS turut serta dengan penerbangan
Distinguished Visitor dan media dari Pusat Pergerakan Udara.
Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei (TUDB) turut ikut sama dengan operasi
Shore to Ship Medevac diselajurkan dengan latihan pendaratan Blackhawk S70i secara Cross Deck di atas Kapal USS Montgomery yang mana pendaratan atas kapal Tentera Laut Amerika Syarikat itu memberikan peluang bagi anak buah kapal serta juruterbang dan anak buah pesawat untuk membuat pendaratan secara selamat di atas kawasan pendaratan yang kecil dan bergerak. TUDB turut menyediakan keupayaan menggambar dari udara dalam
PhotoEx dengan pesawat Blackhawk S70i.
Pendaratan atas kapal disusuli dengan Eksesais Mencari dan Menyelamat (SAREX) dimana TUDB beraksi bersama dengan pesawat MH-60 TLAS yang turut menjalankan operasi. Dalam eksesais tersebut, kru kedua-dua pesawat berlatih berkerjasama dalam mencari dan menyelamat dalam senario mangsa jatuh dari kapal. Pada
SAREX tersebut, mangsa berjaya dijumpa dan diselamatkan oleh kru pesawat S70i sebelum di bawa kembali ke darat. Eksesais diteruskan lagi dengan
Engineering Symposiumeering Symposium yang menekankan topik kerosakan air masin yang dijalankan oleh No 51 Skuadron. Penyelamat laut TUDB juga turut menghadiri latihan kolam bagi
SAR bertempat di kolam renang Muara.
Upacara penutup eksesais CARAT 2019 diadakan di MNCC dan diadakan bersama oleh Tentera Laut Amerika Syarikat dengan Markas Angkatan Bersama ABDB. Kedua-dua Negara mengambil pengajaran dari eksesais
