President Shizuka Saito established Alpha Aviation in 1985. We are a CAB-licensed aviation company and provide pilot training at our four operation centers in Japan. We have kept top level market share in the Japanese flight training business for more than a decade, since 1999.
Alpha Aviation is the most active aviation company in Japan
"Our ultimate goal is to help in creating a society where people can have easy access to aviation services anywhere in the world."
1. Got type certificates
Robinson R22/R44, Diamond aircraft DA40/DA42
Robinson R22/R44
We got the type certificate for the R22 by JCAB on behalf of the Robinson Helicopter Company in 2002. A type certificate reduces the paperwork requirements as well as associated costs in Japan. So, it is easier for Japanese customers to buy a helicopter.
In Japan, type certificates for small aircraft were rare a decade ago. We spent a lot of time and money to get one. Surprisingly, it took more than three years to coordinate with JCAB officers and prepare the documents. These are difficult to do, but we were successful because of our technical capabilities and know-how. This experience enables us to provide high-quality service for the sale, maintenance and operation of our aircraft.
Diamond DA40/42
Diamond Aircraft are attractive, innovative and high-tech. These aircraft have glass cockpits, diesel engines, and the body and wings are made of fiber-reinforced plastic. We have decided to import these innovative machines, and we got the type certificate for the DA40 and DA42. This reduces the import costs and ensures aircraft reliability.
The Difference between the Cessna C172 and the DA40
1. "Climb" The DA40 has good climb performance thanks to its horse power.
2. "Cruise" The DA40 is easy to control because it is a low-wing airplane and has a stick type of control rod. Furthermore, it has a better cruise speed thanks to its high horse power.
3. "Navigation" The DA40 is installed with the G1000.The DA40 makes it easy to maintain airway, speed, and altitude. The G1000 auto-pilot system ensures you fly to your destination.
2. Won the gold medals in Helicopter World Championships
The Alpha Aviation team won gold medals at the World Helicopter Championships in Germany (1999), Spain (2000) and Austria (2002). In order to win the gold medals, we trained hard in all our spare time. Thanks to our efforts, our pilots became more skillful and we could perfect our performance and get a lot of visibility internationally. The fact that our customers can be trained by medalists ensures them that our service is of high quality. And we made Japan famous in the World Helicopter Championships.
Alpha Aviation is the only Japanese company which participated in the World Helicopter Championships. Our participation was self-funded. Our efforts were nor only for our own merit but for the Japanese aviation industry in general. That's why we can provide higher quality and safer service for our customers than our competitors here in Japan.
3. Expanded into Fukushima Airport (RJSF)
There are few airports in Japan at which one can conduct aircraft training, especially in central Japan. Narita and Haneda Airports are only open for commercial airlines, and other airports are ill-equipped, with bad runway conditions or are too small for good training. Fukushima Airport (RJSF) is the nearest airport that is adequately equipped so that there are scheduled domestic and international flights. As a result, training can be conducted efficiently, especially for instrument flight training. In fact, our students get their licenses more quickly than other flight schools' students do.
Regarding training areas, other flight schools use training areas which are limited to 2,000 ft altitude, but we use training areas suitable for training at higher altitudes (4,000ft tor 8,000ft).
We currently provide pilot training using the DA40, the DA42 and Agusta A109, but in the future, we plan to add the D-Jet and open a business-jet center in our Fukushima operation center.
4. Collaborating with universities
We started aviation training for Teikyo University undergraduate students
Alpha Aviation is the first company to conduct aviation training for university undergraduate students in Japan. We started in 2008.
Most universities entrust their students' training to American universities in the US. However, we can conduct all training in Japan because we offer the students high quality training, which increases their chances of getting a job in the aviation industry and familiarizes students with Japanese aviation circumstances that they will likely encounter when they work in the future.
Alpha Aviation uses innovative aircraft, such as "Diamond Aircraft", at Fukushima Arport (RJSF). Our customer can enjoy the same service as a university student does without enrolling.
Teikyo University will launch a training course for helicopter pilots in 2010. Students will be able to get their private pilot license and commercial pilot license in three years in this program. Because Teikyo has a Department of Medicine and oversees medical internships at hospitals, they will also open an EMS training course for those who would like to be EMS pilots. This will be in conjunction with the Department of Medicine. In Japan, there are few EMS pilots. Therefore, this program is receiving attention and is expected to be beneficial.
Alpha Aviation has kept its top level market share in the Japanese flight training business for more than nine years and is now marking our 24th accident-free year. Thanks to these achievements, we won the contract for pilot training at Teikyo University.
5. 24th accident-free record
"Is an aircraft safe? What is the chance for aircraft accident?"
Most people or their families who are interested in training ask us these kinds of questions. They are nervous about accidents. However, we tell them that we have been accident-free since our foundation, and that makes them feel more confident.
We know why accidents occur and how to prevent them through our longtime operation. Our accident-free record is proof of this.
The president, pilots, mechanics and other employees pay attention to safety as a matter of course. For example, the president gets information from the operation center every morning, at mid-day and at the end of the day and judge the situation. All staff clarifies what they should do and what they are responsible for. That's why we can maintain accident free record.
Furthermore, safety is our priority in training. There are cheaper schools out there, but in our view, choosing a school because it's cheaper is not necessarily a wise thing to do.
6. Care for environment
Most small aircraft equipped with reciprocal engines use aviation gasoline (Avgas).
Leaded gasoline had been widely used for automobiles until the mid-1970's in Japan. The authorities do not recommended it because of its negative impact on the environment. However, in aviation, most operators still use leaded gasoline in order to prevent the engine from knocking.
In order to solve this problem, we decided to import unleaded gasoline and use it in our helicopters, bringing us up to international standards.
This is achieved thanks to our efforts; we asked the helicopter manufacturer to revise their aircraft's operating manual and tried to find oil manufacture from overseas and get a license for importing oil.
Conclusion
We hope this information helps you. These achievements can't be attained overnight. We have continued to strive to provide people with easy access to aviation services anywhere in the world.
We like when people recognize that we have taken the lead in the general aviation industry in Japan through our serious commitment to safe operations, turning out first-rate pilots and ongoing development in general aviation. We look forward to serving you.