The Take-off of Sabah Air Aviation
Sabah Air Aviation, originally founded in 1975 as Penerbangan Sabah under the Sabah State Ministry of Finance, has grown from a small state-run service into a vital player in Sabah’s aviation landscape. Its first fleet included Aerospatiale Allouette helicopters, Bell 206 Jet Rangers, a Bell 212, and Nomad aircraft, with the mission of serving remote areas beyond the reach of national carriers.
From the outset, Sabah Air played a crucial public service role. It pioneered medical evacuation flights and, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, introduced the Flying Doctor Service (FDS), which delivered healthcare to rural communities. The FDS continued for four decades before being discontinued in 2016 when its contract expired.
The company also supported Sabah’s offshore oil and gas industry. That sector is now managed by its wholly owned subsidiary, SAZMA Aviation, which today provides offshore helicopter transport with a modern fleet that includes Leonardo AW139 helicopters. In 2022, SAZMA secured an RM85 million contract for offshore services in Sabah waters and expanded its AW139 fleet to three aircraft.
Headquartered at the Sabah Air Building in Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu, with operational bases in Sandakan and Tawau, Sabah Air specializes in non-scheduled and charter aviation. Its helicopters are used for search and rescue, aerial mapping, powerline inspections, cargo and patient transfers, sightseeing over Mount Kinabalu, and VVIP flights. The company also holds approvals for Part-145 maintenance and continuing airworthiness management.
Safety remains central to Sabah Air’s operations, shaped by decades of experience and regulatory oversight. The memory of the 1976 “Double Six Tragedy,” which claimed the lives of Chief Minister Tun Fuad Stephens and other state leaders, continues to underscore the importance of aviation safety in Sabah.
In recognition of its role in the industry, Sabah Air was named Best Aviation Company at the BrandLaureate Brand of the Year Awards in 2022. Today, under Group CEO Captain Andy Jamaludin, an experienced pilot and engineer, the company continues to focus on charter and specialized aviation services tailored to Sabah’s needs.
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