"It's the closest thing you'll get to a magic carpet ride!" Captain Harold
hollered to me above the din of the engine before he grabbed the
controls and expertly eased us off the ground.

We were both securely strapped in the front seats of a Sabah Air
helicopter, its transparent bubble windows offering unobstructed
views of the surroundings. Even the bottom of the helicopter was
made of transparent material, giving one the feeling of literally flying
on air. Whatever initial fear I had was soon forgotten as Captain
Harold piloted the machine with great skill and confidence over
Sabah's varied landscape.

The contrasting Sabah vista is indeed best appreciated from the air
when you can see the sprawling city of Kota Kinabalu below, the
blues and the greens of the sea on one side, and the rugged
highlands and verdant rainforest on the other.

Several flight packages are available for those wanting to see Sabah
from a bird's eye view. The basic package, the Kota Kinabalu Aerial
Delight, takes approximately 20 minutes and offers an aerial view of
Kota Kinabalu, the Tunku Abdul Rahman park islands and coastal
beaches. View several prominent Kota Kinabalu landmarks such as
the Sabah Foundation building and the state mosque during this
flight. Weather permitting, one can even see the majestic Mount
Kinabalu looming in the distance.

The Mount Kinabalu Aerial Fantasy is a 60minute flight tour of
Southeast Asia's highest mountain located in Sabah. The highest
point of the Crocker Range at 4,101 metres, Mount Kinabalu rises up
from among the rainforest and clouds, to offer breathtaking views to
flight passengers. On the return journey, fly over vast fields of padi
and traditional villages.

The Tip of Borneo flight package is another interesting choice which
takes passengers to the northernmost point of Sabah and the island
of Borneo. Departing from Kota Kinabalu, the helicopter flies over
Kota Kinabalu city and its landmarks such as the Tun Mustapa
Tower, Universiti Malaysia Sabah and Nexus Karambunai Resort. It
then journeys over coastal beaches and occasionally over the
interiors of Sabah, giving passengers the opportunity to see Sabah's
contrasting landscapes before arriving at the Tip of Borneo in Kudat.
Catch the beautiful views of Sabah's beaches along the west coast
and take in the raging beauty of the South China Seas as the waves
crash onto the shores. The helicopter lands here for a 15minute
photo opportunity before proceeding to take passengers to lunch at
the Kudat Golf and Marina Resort. The entire aerial tour takes about
two hours.

Other flight packages can be arranged to suit the needs of
passengers, such as an escape to the countryside for an intimate
picnic, a flight over the rainforests and mangroves of Sabah, and a
trip to the Mount Kinabalu Golf Course at an altitude of 1,800 metres.

Whatever your choice, be assured that seeing Sabah by air is a
unique and safe experience. For more information, visit
www.sabahair.com.my.

Issued by: Communications Division, Tourism Malaysia
For more information, contact Anis Rozalina at (603) 2615 8188 Or email anisramli@tourism.gov.my
Date issued: 4 September 2006