Anduki Airfield

Anduki Airfield (Malay: Lapangan Terbang Anduki; abbrev: AKI) (IATA: KUB[4], 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] It is operated by Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP), and uses 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.[5]

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
Rebels being marched by Queen's Own Highlanders to Anduki Airfield in 1962.

The airport was opened in 1951, after a Supermarine Sea Otter owned by British Malaysian Petroleum was the first aeroplane to land at the Anduki Aerodrome in 1949.[2][5] In 1955, Malaysian Airways used a de Havilland Dragon Rapide to charter from Brunei Town, Anduki Airfield, Miri, and Labuan.[6] Moreover, the first Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) helicopter, a Sikorsky S-55 loaned from Worldwide Helicopters, came into service.[5]

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.[7][8] In 1964, the Sikorsky S-61N came into service together as Brunei Shell Petroleum Aviation Services Department (SAV) formed.[5] A few years later in 1966, SAV purchased three more S-61Ns.[5]

In 1999, the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) issue a commercial air operations certificate to SAV.[5] The Sikorsky S-92 was introduced in 2005 to replace older aircraft.[5]

On 14 May 2013, Sikorsky Aerospace Services announced plans for the conversion of BSP's Sikorsky S-92 into search and rescue (SAR) modifications,[9] this became operational in 2014.[5] On 17 June 2013, two AgustaWestland AW139 were delivered to BSP after the contract was awarded six months earlier.[5][10] 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.[11] On 27 May 2019, a milestone was set by Siti Saffawana for being the first Bruneian Commander of the BSP Search and Rescue Department.[12]

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[5][11]
Aérospatiale
Alouette III		retired[13]
Sikorsky S-61Ntransport
helicopter		retired[5]
Sikorsky S-92active[5]
search &
rescue
helicopter		active
AgustaWestland
AW139		utility
helicopter		active[5][14]
Percival
Prince		transport
aircraft		retired[13]
Supermarine
Sea Otter		amphibious
aircraft		Sarawak
Oilfields Ltd.		retired[5]
de Havilland
Dragon Rapide		airlinerMalaysian
Airlines		retired

References
  1. Airport information for WBAK at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006).
  2. "Anduki Airfield revamps its facilities". BT.com.bn. The Brunei Times. 4 December 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
  3. "Anduki Airfield". WikiMapia.org. WikiMapia. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  4. "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.
  5. Price, Mike; Cameron, David (August 2013). "Brunei Shell Petroleum – Training and Simulation - A historical perspective" (PDF). TangentLink.com. Brunei Shell Petroleum. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  6. "Short history of Brunei aviation". BruneiResources.blogspot.com. Short history of Brunei aviation. January 2007. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  7. "Running from a transport aircraft after arriving at Anduki airfield: Commando troops of..." www.AgeFotoStock.com. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  8. 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.
  9. "Brunei Shell S-92 SAR conversion". Helis.com. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  10. "AW1050 Brunei Shell AW139 delivery". LeonardoCompany.com. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  11. "Brunei Shell Petroleum recognised for 50 years of service with Sikorsky helicopters". WorldOil.com. 18 April 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  12. "Two new firsts for BSP". BorneoBulletin.com.bn. Borneo Bulletin Online. 26 May 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  13. Belait Museum
  14. Andrews, Alex. "New film from Shell shows two AW139 helicopters arriving in Brunei". HelicopterInvestor.com. Helicopter Investor. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
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