Anduki Airfield
{{Short description|Domestic airport and heliport in Seria, Brunei Darussalam}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}{{Use British English|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox airport
|name = Anduki Airfield
|nativename-a =
|nativename-r = {{Lang|ms|Lapangan Terbang Anduki}}
|image = Anduki Airfield (1).jpg
|image-width = 280
|image_alt =
|caption = Anduki Airfield arrival and departure building
|IATA = KUB
|ICAO = WBAK
|owner = Government of Brunei
|operator = Brunei Shell Petroleum
|city-served =
|location = Seria, Belait District, Brunei Darussalam
|opened = {{Start date and age|1951|df=y}}
|built = {{Start date and age|1949|df=y}}{{Cite press release|url=https://www.bsp.com.bn/main/mediacentre/press_release/29082012s.asp|title=The sky's the limit with BSP’s SAV|website=BSP.com.bn|publisher=Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd|date=29 August 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115042231/https://www.bsp.com.bn/main/mediacentre/press_release/29082012s.asp|archive-date=15 January 2013}}
|timezone = Brunei Darussalam Time (BNT)
|utc = UTC+08:00
|metric-elev = y
|elevation-m = 2.13
|coordinates = {{Coord|04|37|56|N|114|22|37|E|region:BN-BE_type:airport|display=inline,title|format=dms}}
|website = {{URL|www.civil-aviation.gov.bn}}
|image_map = {{Coord|4.6328706|114.3772117|format=dms}}
|image_mapsize = 280
|image_map_alt =
|image_map_caption=
|pushpin_map = Brunei
|pushpin_mapsize= 280
|pushpin_map_alt=
|pushpin_map_caption= Location in the Belait District of Brunei Darussalam
|pushpin_mark = Maki-heliport-11.svg
|pushpin_marksize= 14
|pushpin_label = Anduki Airfield (WBAK)
|pushpin_label_position=right
|metric-rwy = y
|r1-number = 05H/23H
|r1-length-m = 820
|r1-length-f = 2,690
|r1-surface = asphalt
|h1-number = 1
|h1-length-m =
|h1-length-f =
|h1-surface = asphalt
|h2-number = 2
|h2-length-m =
|h2-length-f =
|h2-surface = asphalt
|h3-number = 3
|h3-length-m =
|h3-length-f =
|h3-surface = asphalt/concrete
|h4-number = 4
|h4-length-m =
|h4-length-f =
|h4-surface = asphalt/concrete
|h5-number = 5
|h5-length-m =
|h5-length-f =
|h5-surface = asphalt
|h6-number = 6
|h6-length-m =
|h6-length-f =
|h6-surface = asphalt
|stat1-header =
|stat1-data =
|stat-year =
|footnotes = Sources: ICAO code, location, elevation,{{GCM|WBAK|source=DAFIF}}{{Unreliable source?|sure=y|reason=Source is dated 2006, states only one helipad when airport diagram and satellite imagery show 6|date=October 2023}} name, operator,{{Cite web|author=Hadi DP Mahmud|date=4 December 2008|url=http://www.bt.com.bn/en/home_news/2008/12/04/anduki_airfield_revamps_its_facilities|title=Anduki Airfield revamps its facilities|website=BT.com.bn|location=Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam|publisher=The Brunei Times|access-date=26 May 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206143853/http://www.BT.com.bn/en/home_news/2008/12/04/anduki_airfield_revamps_its_facilities|archive-date=6 December 2008}} coordinates{{Cite web|url=http://www.wikimapia.org/4023012|title=Anduki Airfield|website=WikiMapia.org|publisher=WikiMapia|date=n.d.|access-date=17 October 2023}}
}}
Anduki Airfield ({{Langx|ms|Lapangan Terbang Anduki}}; abbrev: AKI{{Cite web|url=https://skyvector.com/?ll=4.637528,114.38225&chart=301&zoom=1|title=SkyVector aviation chart for Anduki Airfield|website=SkyVector.com|publisher=SkyVector|date=n.d.|access-date=17 October 2023}}) {{Airport codes|KUB{{Cite web|url=http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/cefact/locode/bn.htm|title=United Nations location codes: Brunei Darussalam (includes IATA codes)|website=UNECE.org|publisher=UN/LOCODE 2011-2, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)|date=28 February 2012|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517222321/http://www.UNECE.org/fileadmin/DAM/cefact/locode/bn.htm}}|WBAK}} is a domestic airfield which now primarily operates as a heliport, located in Seria, a town in the Belait District of Brunei Darussalam. 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.{{Cite web|last1=Price|first1=Mike|last2=Cameron|first2=David|date=August 2013|title=Brunei Shell Petroleum – Training and Simulation - A historical perspective|url=https://tangentlink.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/7.-Training-Simulation-Mike-Price.pdf|website=TangentLink.com|publisher=Brunei Shell Petroleum|access-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205225156/https://tangentlink.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/7.-Training-Simulation-Mike-Price.pdf|archive-date=5 February 2023|url-status=dead}}
History
File:Rebel prisoners, Brunei, December 1962.jpg to Anduki in 1962.|alt=]]
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. In 1955, Malaysian Airways used a de Havilland Dragon Rapide to charter from Brunei Town, Anduki Airfield, Miri, and Labuan.{{Cite web|title=Short history of Brunei aviation|url=https://bruneiresources.blogspot.com/2007/01/short-history-of-brunei-aviation.html|website=BruneiResources.blogspot.com|publisher=The Daily Brunei Resources|date=27 January 2007|access-date=16 October 2023}} British Malaysian Petroleum subsequently became Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP), and its first helicopter, a Sikorsky S-55 loaned from Worldwide Helicopters, came into service.
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.{{Cite web|title=Running from a transport aircraft after arriving at Anduki airfield: Commando troops of the Queen's Own Highlanders.|url=https://www.agefotostock.com/age/en/details-photo/running-from-a-transport-aircraft-after-arriving-at-anduki-airfield-commando-troops-of-the-queen-s-own-highlanders/MEV-10425184|website=AgeFotoStock.com|publisher=Illustrated London News Ltd / Mary Evans|date=n.d.|access-date=7 January 2023}}{{Cite book|last=Pocock|first=Tom|date=1973|title=Fighting General – The Public and Private Campaigns of General Sir Walter Walker|edition=1st|location=London, England|publisher=Collins|isbn=978-0-00-211295-6}} In 1964, the Sikorsky S-61N came into service together as Brunei Shell Petroleum Aviation Services Department (SAV) formed. A few years later in 1966, SAV purchased three more S-61Ns.
In 1999, the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) issued a commercial air operations certificate to SAV. The Sikorsky S-92 was introduced in 2005 to replace older aircraft.
On 14 May 2013, Sikorsky Aerospace Services announced plans for the conversion of BSP's Sikorsky S-92 into search and rescue (SAR) modifications,{{Cite web|title=Brunei Shell S-92 SAR conversion|url=https://www.helis.com/database/news/s92_brunei_sar/|website=Helis.com|location=Singapore|publisher=Helicopter History Site|date=14 May 2013|access-date=16 October 2023}} this became operational in 2014. On 17 June 2013, two AgustaWestland AW139 were delivered to BSP after the contract was awarded six months earlier.{{Cite press release|title=AW1050 Brunei Shell AW139 delivery|url=https://www.leonardocompany.com/en/press-release-detail/-/detail/brunei-shell-aw139-delivery|website=LeonardoCompany.com|publisher=AgustaWestland|date=17 June 2013|access-date=16 October 2023}} 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.{{Cite web|title=Brunei Shell Petroleum recognised for 50 years of service with Sikorsky helicopters|url=https://worldoil.com/news/2017/4/18/brunei-shell-petroleum-recognized-for-50-years-of-service-with-sikorsky-helicopters|website=WorldOil.com|location=Singapore|publisher=World Oil, Gulf Publishing Company LLC.|date=18 April 2017|access-date=16 October 2023}} On 27 May 2019, a milestone was set by Siti Saffawana for being the first Bruneian commander of the BSP Search and Rescue Department.{{Cite web|title=Two new firsts for BSP|url=https://borneobulletin.com.bn/two-new-firsts-for-bsp/|website=BorneoBulletin.com.bn|publisher=Borneo Bulletin Online|date=27 May 2019|access-date=19 March 2021|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527110346/https://BorneoBulletin.com.bn/two-new-firsts-for-bsp/|archive-date=27 May 2019}} It was unveiled in January 2024 that BSP had acquired a new Sikorsky S-92 (V8-BSP).{{Cite web |title=BSP Website |url=https://www.bsp.com.bn/main/media-centre/featured-stories/view/20 |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=www.bsp.com.bn}}
Notable aircraft
Some aircraft which have been used or present on this airfield:
Gallery
{{Gallery|title=Anduki Airfield gallery of images|width=200
|File:Anduki Airfield 14 October 2023 08.jpg|Anduki Airfield's air traffic control tower.|alt1=
|File:Anduki Airfield 15 October 2022 06.jpg|New hangars of Brunei Shell Petroleum Aviation Services Department (SAV) at Anduki Airfield.|alt2=
|File:Anduki Airfield 4 June 2023 07.jpg|Sikorsky S-92 (V8-SAR) SAR during night operations.|alt3=
|File:Anduki Airfield, January 1967.jpg|Aerial view of Anduki Airfield in 1967.|alt4=
|File:Brunei Shell Petroleum Sikorsky S-92 model.jpg|Interior of its main building.|alt5=
}}
References
External links
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikidata|property|Q3270751}}
- [https://www.mtic.gov.bn Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC), Brunei Darussalam] — at GOV.BN
- [https://www.gov.bn/directories/MTIC.aspx Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) – directory] — parent to the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), at GOV.BN
- {{NWS-current|WBAK}}
- {{ASN|WBAK}}
{{Airports in Brunei}}
{{Portal bar|Aviation|Asia}}
{{Authority control}}