Airports / Malaysia / SDK
Sandakan Airport.
Sandakan, Malaysia · 46 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.2/5
Google rating
1,521 ratings
0
Operators based
46
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
54 nm
To the nearest alternate
Lahad Datu Airport (LDU).
Overview
Sandakan Airport (WBKS / SDK) sits in Sandakan, Malaysia, where it functions as a mid-sized airport. The airport sits 46 feet above sea level. Alongside scheduled airline service, the airport handles a steady flow of private and charter traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into SDK for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Lahad Datu Airport (LDU, 54 nm), Tawau Airport (TWU, 95 nm), and Sanga Sanga Airport (TWT, 113 nm). With a single 8,202-foot paved runway, SDK can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from SDK depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Sandakan.
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Field capability
ICAO
WBKS
IATA
SDK
FAA / Local
WBKS
Elevation
46 ft
Coordinates
5.9009° N · 118.0590° E
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Malaysia fields
state range 10–3,350 ft
At 46 ft, SDK sits lower than 52% of the 29 Malaysia fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 8,202 ft
- 08/268,202 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 8,202 ft
SDK's 8,202 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 54nmLDULahad Datu AirportLahad Datu
- 95nmTWUTawau AirportTawau
- 113nmTWTSanga Sanga AirportBongao
- 120nmBKIKota Kinabalu International AirportKota Kinabalu
- 157nmTRKJuwata International Airport / Suharnoko Harbani AFBTarakan
- 172nmLBULabuan AirportLabuan
Location
Open the full mapWBKS · Sandakan Airport · Sandakan, Malaysia
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from SDK on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu (HNL) | 4,941 nm | 11h 53m |
| Anchorage (ANC) | 5,150 nm | 12h 23m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 6,297 nm | 15h 3m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 6,546 nm | 15h 37m |
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 6,803 nm | 16h 13m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 6,833 nm | 16h 17m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 6,882 nm | 16h 24m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 6,898 nm | 16h 27m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use SDK?
- Sandakan Airport's longest paved runway is 8,202 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at SDK?
- Sandakan Airport has one runway; the longest measures 8,202 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to SDK?
- The closest alternate is Lahad Datu Airport (LDU), about 54 nm away, followed by Tawau Airport (TWU) at 95 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from SDK to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Honolulu about 11h 53m (4,941 nm), Anchorage about 12h 23m (5,150 nm), Seattle about 15h 3m (6,297 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.