Sabah Air Aviation Sdn. Bhd.

Sabah Air Aviation Sdn Bhd, known as SAA, is a general aviation company based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. It was formerly known as Penerbangan Sabah. The website says the company was registered in 1975 as a state government agency and is one of the oldest general aviation companies in Malaysia.

The company was formed to provide air transport services to the people of Sabah and to areas not frequented by the national airline. It started with helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, including Aerospatiale Allouette and Bell helicopters and Nomad N-22B aircraft.

SAA pioneered medical evacuation and flying doctor services with the Ministry of Health. Its Flying Doctor Service began in 1975, and in 1978 it started working with the ministry to serve villages on the west coast of Sabah. A service for the east coast of Sabah followed in 1980.

Oil rig support began in 1977. The website says offshore passenger transport to oil rigs around Sabah's waters is now run by its sister company, SAZMA Aviation.

Services include underslung transport to remote places with difficult terrain, aerial filming, photography and mapping, and geophysical and seismic services. The company also offers powerline work, aerial sightseeing and tour packages, and cargo and passenger transport.

Search and rescue services cover most of the Malaysian region and neighbouring countries. SAA also provides MEDEVAC transfers for the Sabah Medical Department, and VVIP and executive transfers in Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia.

The company has in house ground handling and has been approved by the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) to provide third party ground handling. Its maintenance organization holds a CAAM approved Part-145 certification, with mechanical, radio, NDT and battery workshops. Its CAMO, approved by CAAM, manages continuing airworthiness for its aircraft. The company's aerial filming and mapping aircraft are modified to carry various kinds of equipment. Geophysical services use the King Air Beechcraft 200 and a Bell 206 helicopter for resistivity, seismic, ground penetrating radar and magnetic surveys. The site includes an organisation chart with its board of directors and management team.

Services

• Underslung transport
• Aerial filming, photography and mapping
• Flying Doctor Service
• VVIP and executive transfers
• Ground handling
• Search and rescue
• MEDEVAC
• Geophysical and seismic services
• Aerial sightseeing and tour packages
• Powerline work