BRUNEI Shell Petroleum (BSP) unveiled its revamped aviation facilities yesterday at the Anduki airfield in Seria. Improvements at the airfield have seen the replacement of the grass strip with a sealed insrument runway and the upgrade to the administration building.
The airfield, which played a significant role in Brunei's aviation history when the British Malaysian Petroleum's (which later became BSP) Supermarine Sea Otter made the inaugural landing at the Anduki Aerodrome in 1951, is undergoing a modernisation programme to improve safety and an expansion of its infrastructure, facilities and services.
Security at the airfield is being enhanced with upgraded fencing, additional X-ray equipment, metal detectors, pulsed sensors and CCTV cameras while extensive renovation of the passenger terminal building and facilities are expected to commence soon.
The sealed instrument runway will be further upgraded in the coming months with runway lighting and the commissioning of an enhanced instrument approach procedure, said BSP Managing Director Dr Grahaeme Henderson.
The enhanced instrument approach procedure will enable full and flexible day and night operations in challenging weather conditions and allow maximum utilisation of the superior capabilities of S92 helicopters.
BSP replaced its Sikorsky S61 fleet of helicopters with the new generation Sikorsky S92 last year as a key part in the modernisation programme, which consists of a coordinated series of improvements to facilities and operations at the Anduki Aerodrome stretching from 2005 to 2010.
"This instrument approach for the S92 helicopter will be another aviation milestone we can look forward to, as it will be the first kind in Brunei and the first for the S92 anywhere in the world," said Dr Henderson.
BSP undertook a major reorganisation of its Aviation Department (SAV) to strengthen employee capability focusing on progressing the Bruneianisation skills development.
SAV pilot Hj Mohd Sharin Hj Abu Bakar was presented with his Captain's epaulettes by the chief guest of yesterday's ceremony, Communications Minister Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Hj Abu Bakar Hj Apong, in recognising his upgrade to aircraft commander.
Meanwhile, SAV engineer Abdul Rani Hj Besar was presented with the European Aviation Safety Authority maintenance engineers license.
Bruneians make up 80 per cent of the SAV staff, with five currently on a company-sponsored programme in the United States undergoing training for their commercial helicopter pilots' licence who will add to the pool of Bruneian helicopter pilots that includes two female locals.
"Bruneianisation will remain a key thrust of the Anduki modernisation programme, as it is with our wider human resource development policy at the company level," said the BSP managing director.
Concerns about helicopter safety steadily increased following a number of serious incidents in the 1960s and as a result, BSP decided to develop and operate a company-managed helicopter service. In May 1967, the SAV acquired a single-engined helicopter — an Aerospatiale Allouette III.
To this day, with its fleet of Sikorsky S92s, BSP remains the only company in the Shell Group worldwide to internally manage its offshore helicopter service as opposed to using contracted helicopters.
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