![[Official] Minato Miral Heliport - Yokohama Sky Cruise Sales Office](https://www.skycruise.jp/files/libs/772/202304181742017051.svg?1681807321 "Minato Mirai Heliport - Yokohama Sky Cruise")
Rare Flight Stories
Let me tell you a little-known story about our work.
The thoughts of people working in Yokohama
Having started flying here and been involved in Yokohama tourism for a long time, I have found a community that is "unique to this city."
In addition to the government, there are also tourist facilities, accommodation facilities, Chinatown, and media gatherings, and everyone exchanges opinions and shares information with the sole purpose of making everyone feel glad that they came to Yokohama.
Even more than asking people to come to our facilities, everyone is working hard to liven up Yokohama with the hope that people will come to the city.
It's not just tourism. Everyone working at the port facilities involved in logistics is also a colleague, and we work hard every day to make Yokohama a safe port, without any accidents, regardless of company.
I still treasure the logic I was first taught when I first started out, and will continue to strive to make people think, "Yokohama is a great place."
January 2025 (Date unmarked)
Message from the Director
Why they are so "timid" about safety and have such a "loose" cancellation policy
Heliports have takeoff and landing routes that run through the sea. This requires the use of equipment that ensures safety during takeoff and landing, which is when the greatest stress is placed on the aircraft, such as aircraft with 2 engines or emergency flotation devices attached to the skids (legs).
"Economy and safety are always a trade-off"... I always struggle with flight decisions. You could also call it "sales vs. risk management."
"We want to have lots of customers come and make everything great!" vs. "Is the weather and the condition of the aircraft really okay?" are the two options we repeatedly weighed against each other.
At that time, I always think, "be safe and cowardly" as my motto.
We have to reject the idea that "We can fly somehow..." and when we absolutely cannot fly for safety reasons, it is really painful to have to contact our customers and say, "We are sorry, but today's flight will be canceled." Even if our customers know that we cannot fly, we feel depressed by the guilt and shame.
When I have to turn down a client's wedding proposal, birthday, etc., I sometimes think to myself, "Maybe we can fly...?"
However, we cannot operate a flight based on careless decisions.
If safety is neglected, there is a definite risk of causing an accident when driving a car, boat, or especially when driving an aircraft such as a helicopter.
To ensure customers understand that flying is safe, we are honest with them when booking about weather and other restrictions on flights, but we have a "fairly relaxed" cancellation policy.
If customers are willing to make a reservation while understanding the risks, we strive to accommodate arrangements such as rescheduling to another day and not charge a cancellation fee, unless they cancel at the last minute.
The location of our flights, Minato Mirai Heliport, is located in the city center, which is unique in Japan.
There is no doubt that it is more visible to the public and is "seen" by not only customers but many other people than at other heliports.
We started sightseeing flights at the Yokohama Expo in 1989, and in the 35 years since, we have been able to continue flying without any accidents because we have always prioritized safety, but I believe it is also thanks to the trust we have received from the local community.
"Safety = Trust"; we will continue to strive to be relentless when it comes to safety so that we can build on this legacy and gain the trust of our customers and the local community.
Message from the Director
For expecting women riding with us
There is no rule that prevents pregnant women from boarding the plane. However, it may be better to wait until your period is stable.
We will guide you slowly into the helicopter and guide you on and off.
Small helicopters have a cramped cabin and can be easily turbulent in the wind, so we sometimes had to refuse pregnant women boarding. However, with the introduction of larger helicopters, the cabin is spacious and does not get turbulent even in small winds, so we are able to allow pregnant women to board as long as there are no problems with boarding and disembarking.
We will not refuse customers who come with bags with pregnancy tags attached, but if you contact us with an inquiry such as, "My partner is pregnant, can we fly by helicopter?" we can provide accurate guidance and help with the preparations.
We understand the desire to ease your partner's emotional anxiety and will do everything we can to help.
However, please consider your partner's health condition carefully before making this decision.
"I want to be a helicopter pilot..." here's the reality.
The cockpit of an AS355. The engines are started after a thorough understanding of what each instrument, warning light, and mechanism means. During the flight, the pilots also check the weather conditions and constantly monitor the aircraft's status using the instruments, confirming an emergency landing site in case of an emergency, and keeping a sharp eye on the scenery, sounds, and smells as they perform their flying duties. They are by no means graceful flyers, but rather perform mundane tasks repeatedly.
At flight sites, I often receive consultations from young people who want to become helicopter pilots.
I'm impressed that you have big dreams.
However, it is also true that you cannot aspire to become a pilot unless you are extremely determined.
Helicopter pilots need to pass an aviation medical examination and have the skills to drive a car or motorcycle, so they can generally obtain a private pilot's license, although this varies from person to person (however, a certain level of skill and English proficiency is required).
When asked about their purpose in becoming a pilot, most people say they want to become a professional pilot. However, there are two types of pilot licenses: a private pilot license and a commercial pilot license (similar to a Class Two license for automobiles). In order to become a professional pilot, you need to obtain a private pilot license and then a commercial pilot license.
Even if you obtain a commercial pilot's license, you cannot immediately become a captain for passenger flights like the ones we do.
Unlike the automotive world, where people fly buses or taxis, in the aviation world you cannot become a captain unless you obtain a "Class Two license," gain a certain amount of flight experience, and pass an examination based on national regulations.
Helicopter companies obtain business approval by creating their own operational regulations, which are set by the government. These regulations stipulate that pilots must have at least 500 hours of flight experience to become passenger flight captains.
It takes about 170 hours to get a commercial pilot license, and then you need to gain more than 300 hours of flight experience. How to gain that 300 hours of experience is the biggest hurdle you'll face after getting your commercial pilot license.
It is difficult to get a job at a private helicopter company, and training pilots is very costly. Government agencies have a screening process, and if you are deemed unsuitable, your chances of becoming a captain are closed (this is tough, since flights are funded by tax money).
In addition, there are "grades" for licenses, and in terms of cars, there are models that you can drive and models that you cannot drive, and you cannot take the test to drive a model that you cannot drive unless you have a certain amount of driving experience. It takes a lot of effort and cost to train pilots, both in the private sector and in government agencies.
We take care of the aircraft, guarantee its safety, and charge customers a fee. There are many thorny roads to becoming a professional pilot, and if you were to pay for a commercial pilot's license out of your own pocket, it would cost as much as building a house. There are many young people who risk their lives training to become pilots.
"I want to be a helicopter pilot."
"That's a wonderful goal. But how determined are you to achieve it?"
I have heard from aspiring young people that there is a lack of information available on how to become a pilot, so I have decided to state some realistic information.
Minato Mirai - Hakone - Mt. Fuji (Japan Government Tourism Bureau promotional video)
This is a promotional video for inbound tourists created by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).
It takes about 25 minutes from Yokohama to Hakone.
Mount Fuji was sometimes hidden by clouds, so we had some difficulty finding the right timing to take the photo, but the view of Mount Fuji from the helicopter was spectacular.
The compliments from our customers really cheer us up!
When we receive words of joy and praise from customers, such as from the booking sites we do business with, it makes our staff go back to when we first started the service and motivates us to continue working hard, no matter how difficult the situation may be.
It makes me feel better!
Thank you!
