Anduki Airfield

Anduki Airfield (Malay: Lapangan Terbang Anduki; abbrev: AKI[4]) (IATA: KUB[5], ICAO: WBAK) is a domestic airfield which now primarily operates as a heliport, located in Seria, a town in the Belait District of Brunei Darussalam.[1] Although Anduki Airfield is owned by the Government of Brunei, it is operated and managed by Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP), who currently fly Sikorsky S-92 and AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters in support of servicing offshore oil platforms. Brunei Shell Petroleum replaced the original grass airstrip with a sealed instrument runway in 2008. Future upgrades include the addition of runway lighting, and an enhanced instrument approach procedure. Operations at Anduki Airfield are carried out in accordance with regulations from the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards.[2][6]

Anduki Airfield

Lapangan Terbang Anduki
Anduki Airfield arrival and departure building
Summary
Airport typePublic heliport
OwnerGovernment of Brunei
OperatorBrunei Shell Petroleum
LocationSeria, Belait District, Brunei Darussalam
Built1951 (1951)
Time zoneBrunei Darussalam Time (BNT) (UTC+08:00)
Elevation AMSL2.13 m / 7 ft
Coordinates04°37′56″N 114°22′37″E
Websitewww.civil-aviation.gov.bn
Maps
4°37′58″N 114°22′38″E
Anduki Airfield (WBAK) is located in Brunei
Anduki Airfield (WBAK)
Anduki Airfield (WBAK)
Location in the Belait District of Brunei Darussalam
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
05H/23H 820 2,690 asphalt
Helipads
Number Length Surface
m ft
1 asphalt
2 asphalt
3 asphalt/concrete
4 asphalt/concrete
5 asphalt
6 asphalt
Sources: ICAO code, location, elevation,[1] name, operator,[2] coordinates[3]

History
Rebel prisoners being marched by Queen's Own Highlanders to Anduki in 1962.

The aerodrome was opened in 1951, after a Supermarine Sea Otter owned by British Malaysian Petroleum was the first aeroplane to land at what was then known as Anduki Aerodrome in 1949.[2][6] In 1955, Malaysian Airways used a de Havilland Dragon Rapide to charter from Brunei Town, Anduki Airfield, Miri, and Labuan.[7] British Malaysian Petroleum subsequently became Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP),[2] and its first helicopter, a Sikorsky S-55 loaned from Worldwide Helicopters, came into service.[6]

The Queen's Own Highlanders, in support of the joint effort to suppress the Brunei revolt, boarded five Twin Pioneers and a Blackburn Beverley which landed at Anduki in 1962.[8][9] In 1964, the Sikorsky S-61N came into service together as Brunei Shell Petroleum Aviation Services Department (SAV) formed.[6] A few years later in 1966, SAV purchased three more S-61Ns.[6]

In 1999, the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) issue a commercial air operations certificate to SAV.[6] The Sikorsky S-92 was introduced in 2005 to replace older aircraft.[2][6]

On 14 May 2013, Sikorsky Aerospace Services announced plans for the conversion of BSP's Sikorsky S-92 into search and rescue (SAR) modifications,[10] this became operational in 2014.[6] On 17 June 2013, two AgustaWestland AW139 were delivered to BSP after the contract was awarded six months earlier.[6][11] On 18 April 2017, Sikorsky recognised BSP for 50 years of service since the mid-1950s with five Sikorsky S-55, in which is the first product from the company to be used.[12] On 27 May 2019, a milestone was set by Siti Saffawana for being the first Bruneian commander of the BSP Search and Rescue Department.[13]

Notable aircraft

Some aircraft which have been used or present on this airfield:

photoaircrafttypeoperatorstatusref
Sikorsky HH-52
Seaguard		amphibious
helicopter		Brunei
Shell
Petroleum
(BSP)		retired
Sikorsky S-55utility
helicopter		retired[6][12]
Aérospatiale
Alouette III		retired[2][14]
Sikorsky S-61Ntransport
helicopter		retired[6]
Sikorsky S-92active[6]
search &
rescue
helicopter		active
AgustaWestland
AW139		utility
helicopter		active[6][15]
Percival
Prince		transport
aircraft		retired[14]
Supermarine
Sea Otter		amphibious
aircraft		Sarawak
Oilfields Ltd.		retired[6]
de Havilland
Dragon Rapide		airlinerMalaysian
Airlines		retired
Anduki Airfield gallery of images
  • Anduki Airfield's air traffic control tower.
    Anduki Airfield's air traffic control tower.
  • New hangars of Brunei Shell Petroleum Aviation Services Department (SAV) at Anduki Airfield.
    New hangars of Brunei Shell Petroleum Aviation Services Department (SAV) at Anduki Airfield.
  • Sikorsky S-92 (V8-SAR) SAR during night operations.
    Sikorsky S-92 (V8-SAR) SAR during night operations.
  • Aerial view of Anduki Airfield in 1967.
    Aerial view of Anduki Airfield in 1967.
  • Interior of its main building.
    Interior of its main building.

References
  1. Airport information for WBAK at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006).
  2. Hadi DP Mahmud (4 December 2008). "Anduki Airfield revamps its facilities". BT.com.bn. Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam: The Brunei Times. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
  3. "Anduki Airfield". WikiMapia.org. WikiMapia. n.d. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  4. "SkyVector aviation chart for Anduki Airfield". SkyVector.com. SkyVector. n.d. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  5. "United Nations location codes: Brunei Darussalam (includes IATA codes)". UNECE.org. UN/LOCODE 2011-2, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). 28 February 2012. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021.
  6. Price, Mike; Cameron, David (August 2013). "Brunei Shell Petroleum – Training and Simulation - A historical perspective" (PDF). TangentLink.com. Brunei Shell Petroleum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  7. "Short history of Brunei aviation". BruneiResources.blogspot.com. The Daily Brunei Resources. 27 January 2007. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  8. "Running from a transport aircraft after arriving at Anduki airfield: Commando troops of the Queen's Own Highlanders". AgeFotoStock.com. Illustrated London News Ltd / Mary Evans. n.d. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  9. Pocock, Tom (1973). Fighting General – The Public and Private Campaigns of General Sir Walter Walker (1st ed.). London, England: Collins. ISBN 978-0-00-211295-6.
  10. "Brunei Shell S-92 SAR conversion". Helis.com. Singapore: Helicopter History Site. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  11. "AW1050 Brunei Shell AW139 delivery". LeonardoCompany.com (Press release). AgustaWestland. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  12. "Brunei Shell Petroleum recognised for 50 years of service with Sikorsky helicopters". WorldOil.com. Singapore: World Oil, Gulf Publishing Company LLC. 18 April 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  13. "Two new firsts for BSP". BorneoBulletin.com.bn. Borneo Bulletin Online. 27 May 2019. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  14. Belait Museum
  15. Whyte, Alasdair (22 November 2013). "New film from Shell shows two AW139 helicopters arriving in Brunei – Shell documents the arrival of two AW139 helicopters at Anduki Airfield to join Shell Brunei's fleet of aircraft". HelicopterInvestor.com. Reigate, Surrey: Helicopter Investor. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
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