Private Flying Japan

[92Alpha]

Anyone et al,
Anyone any experiance flying privately in Japan? Would like to know how hard it is to actually get checked out etc. Any pointers appreciated.
Regards
Alpha.

[AC-DC]

There are less than 10 private aircraft in the whole of japan, this is according to an article that read some years ago.

[BackPacker]

I've read a few stories about flying in Japan on Earthrounders: round the world flights in light aircraft. Invariably it seems they think everybody there is very polite, but very used to big, commercial aircraft flying IFR. Radar will happily and politely vector you miles and miles offshore into severe weather and then happily and politely offers you a climb to FL300 to go over the top, handlers will happily and politely charge you outrageous amounts for handling and so forth. Even if you're a VFR, non-turbo, non-pressurized single.

[92Alpha]

As little as that, saw a couple of 182s (may have been stationairs) so far, weather isn't so bad so would expect more aircraft if there was more aircraft to see.
Haven't found an English lanquage website that relates to private flying, yet but if I see anything I'll post it. If you can remember where you saw that article I would be interested.
Cheers
Alpha

[stepwilk]

I flew in Japan in the early 1970s, when I was at Flying Magazine--testing a Fuji 200 and an MU-2. They at least at that time took themselves unbelieveably seriously and found it hard to imagine that an ordinary human bean could actually be a pilot. I remember little about it other than that.

[vanHorck]

Sounds we should all get out there together and teach them that flying can be fun too!
Perhaps an alternative location for our PPRUNE bash?

[ZEEBEE]

Flew there in the early 80's and not much has changed since.

Japanese CAA does NOT encourage private flying ops and really want you to fly IFR everywhere for two reasons;

1. They can be more assured that pilots use standard procedures,
2. The haze level prevalent on most days make VFR pretty iffy

Further, the controllers and local pilots are supposed to use english, but will revert to Japanese at the drop of a hat putting you well and truly out of the picture.

If you try to bring in your own aircraft then you're in for a little surprise;

You will have to have your aircraft approved prior to bringing it in and inspected after the first landfall.
In particular your engine MUST be less than five years since new/factory overhaul regardless of hours clocked. (same goes for instruments)
Only three brands of radios were approved then, these being King, Collins and ARC.
If you have any other brands like Narco etc they have to come out and be replaced by one of the approved brands.

Otherwise it's a piece of cake!

[BackPacker]

You will have to have your aircraft approved prior to bringing it in and inspected after the first landfall.
In particular your engine MUST be less than five years since new/factory overhaul regardless of hours clocked. (same goes for instruments)
Only three brands of radios were approved then, these being King, Collins and ARC.
If you have any other brands like Narco etc they have to come out and be replaced by one of the approved brands.

Is this if you want to import and put the aircraft on the Japanese register, or if you're just passing through under another registration as well?

In the latter case, doesn't sound very ICAO of them, does it?

[Moaiad]

Private Flight to JAPAN

Hi,

If you want to go to JAPAN using a private jet and need any information or assistance in that country, I am ready to help.
my email address is: [email protected]

Moaiad

[92Alpha]

Thanks for all your replies, what I hoped to do was get checked out a local 172 or the like and bring family for a buzz. Haven't been able to find any local clubs or schools which would allow me to do that, as in I haven't found any local schools or clubs.
I'll keep hunting around and if I find anything new I'll post it, I did find one place in Kobe who I'll email, but from their website I don't believe are able to help.
It would be such a shame if I can't as there is some fantastic scenery here, don't know about you but I never feel like I have visited a country till I have flown over it.
Regards
Alpha

[Utfart]

I don't know how active they are, but there is GA in Japan.
Try AOPA Japan on your google.

[Gertrude the Wombat]

If a recent article in Pilot is anything to go by, make sure you don't have an engine failure.

Engine failed, pilot landed on a road, nobody hurt. However it was made clear to him that it was very wrong of him to risk damange to people on the ground in this way, and the honourable thing for him to do was to point his aircraft at a bit of uninhabited mountainside and deliberately kill himself (with any passengers) rather than run the risk of being the cause of a road accident.

[Runway101]

Here are a couple of schools, but you need somebody who speaks Japanese. I personally don't think you will be able to succeed flying in Japan, but you might be able to find somebody flying you and your folks around:

Code:

http://www.alpha-aviation.net/

http://www.sky-high.co.jp/

http://www.sgc-air.co.jp/

-- // --

You could also try to find Mr. Satoshi Kondo of the Museum of Aeronautical Science in Narita. He's FAA trained PPL(A) and flies in Japan. He's the manager or director of the museum or something along those lines. A very nice person.

Beware of prices, he told me it's almost $800 for an hour in an old Cessna, I kid you not. I am not sure if you will be able to fly as a foreigner though, the people I met are all Japanese (that came to the USA for training). I saw a lot of helicopter activity over Tokyo on my few visits, apparently a lot of filming going on but I have no details.

-- // --

You could also try to call JJ Aviation at Torrance Airport (KTOA) in Los Angeles. It's a helicopter flight school but the owners are a Japanese couple and I am sure they might have a contact in Japan.


Let us know if you have any luck.

[92Alpha]

Many thanks again for everyones replies, turns out there is an AOPA in Japan, (should really have been my first port of call, but in my defence I'm not the brightest). I will contact them as well as the individuals and companies that Runway101 has kindly supplied. Hopefully I will have something sorted for when we come over here again later this year, but at $800 an hour it will be a very short trip.
As I find out more information I will post it, cheers.
Alpha

[Katamarino]

However it was made clear to him that it was very wrong of him to risk damange to people on the ground in this way, and the honourable thing for him to do was to point his aircraft at a bit of uninhabited mountainside and deliberately kill himself (with any passengers) rather than run the risk of being the cause of a road accident.

Sounds a little WWII "Your engine has failed, you have no honour!"

[fleigle]

There was an article in the EAA magazine a few years ago about an EAA chapter in the Tokyo area.
Apparently (at that time) you have to land at the same airport that you took off from, the paperwork was insane, etc.
Having worked in Japan many times over a 15 year period, albeit not in aviation, I never saw a GA aircraft.
Just driving around in Japan is really fun, slow, frustrating, but beautiful, especially in Hokkaido where the engineers havn't destroyed every road cut with concrete.
Enjoy Japan but don't hold your breath hoping for a flight.
f

[jtr]

I have lived in Hokkaido for the past 3 years and though not flying in the GA scene, can tell you it exists. There are a couple of flying schools here is Sapporo (Okadama AP) but as has been pointed out, it is pretty pricey. Alpha (you were given a link) seems to be the only one with english capability and I know they have at least one english speaker there.

There is a glider park somewhere in central Hokkaido (Asahikawa maybe) also.

Need and info drop me a pm.