KUCHING: A two-year offshore experience has now put Hornbill Skyways Sdn Bhd on an ambitious path to markets beyond Malaysian shores.
After nearly half a century serving Sarawak’s skies, Hornbill Skyways took a bold leap forward, successfully entering the offshore oil and gas sector with a landmark contract from Petronas.
Until then Hornbill Skyways built its reputation on critical services, including rural connectivity missions and the Flying Doctor Service (FDS), bringing essential healthcare to Sarawak’s most remote communities.
However, in April 2023, the company marked a new chapter by securing a five-year Offshore Helicopter Services (OHS) contract — extendable for another five years — with national oil and gas company Petronas.
This milestone propels Hornbill Skyways into the offshore aviation arena, supporting Petroleum Arrangement Contractors (PACs) operating out of Miri.
Chief Executive Officer Captain Wan Mohamad Ali Wan Abdullah described the achievement as a significant breakthrough for the company, both financially and operationally.
“The offshore helicopter services contract with Petronas represents a significant expansion for Hornbill Skyways, positioning us as a key player in offshore aviation,” he said.
Not content to rest on its laurels, he added that Hornbill Skyways invested heavily to meet the demanding standards of the offshore industry as the acquisition of three Airbus H175 helicopters — renowned for their advanced safety features and exceptional range — marked a major upgrade to the company’s fleet.
“After almost two years of operations with Petronas, we have gained valuable experience.
“This opens doors for us to expand beyond Sarawak, into markets such as Indonesia and Thailand,” he added.
Under his leadership Hornbill Skyways is forging ahead with ambitious plans.
He said that among them is the transformation of its Kuching hangar into a Business Aviation Terminal (BAT), aimed at accommodating future growth in personnel and fleet capacity.
The company also proudly counts four Sarawakian H175 pilots among its ranks, led by former Chief Helicopter Pilot Captain Egar Eran.
It continues to invest in the next generation of local aviation talent through partnerships with aviation training institutions.
Looking ahead, Hornbill Skyways aims to extend its reach beyond Malaysian shores to Brunei, Indonesia, and the Philippines, bolstered by its newly enhanced technical capabilities and offshore experience.
“We sincerely appreciate this opportunity to work with Petronas and look forward to a long-term, successful partnership in offshore aviation and beyond,” he said.
With unwavering commitment to operational excellence and safety, Hornbill Skyways is soaring toward a future filled with promise and potential.
Founded in 1977, Hornbill Skyways has long been synonymous with reliable aviation services across the rugged terrains of Sarawak.
From modest beginnings with a fixed-wing Cessna 421 and two Bell 206B Jet Rangers, the company steadily grew under the stewardship of the Sarawak government, through Yayasan Sarawak and the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC), which assumed ownership in 1985.
Operating from Kuching and Miri, Hornbill Skyways maintains a rigorous regime to uphold international offshore aviation standards.
H175 pilots undergo biannual training and proficiency checks in France, ensuring peak operational readiness. The company has maintained a remarkable on-time performance (OTP) rate exceeding 95 per cent, averaging 300 offshore flight hours per month.
Today, Hornbill Skyways employs 267 staff, 90 per cent of whom are Sarawakians, managing a fleet of 15 helicopters and four fixed-wing aircraft, including an executive jet.
Corporate aviation and offshore support now contribute approximately 30 per cent of the company’s revenue, with government contracts, strategic state missions and VIP charters making up the rest.
