Nakanihon Air Service

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Airbus Helicopers – Nakanihon Air reinforces utility capabilities with new H215 order.

Posted by dgualdo on 14/09/2020
Posted in: Airbus Helicopters NEWS, World Helicopter NEWS. Tagged: , , , , .

PRESS RELEASE – Tokyo, 9 September 2020

Nakanihon Air, one of Japan’s largest helicopter operators, has ordered one H215 heavy helicopter to shore up its capabilities for utility and aerial work.

“We are looking forward to receiving Airbus’ mission-proven H215 to support our wide-ranging activities in Japan,” said Taku Shibata, President of Nakanihon Air. “We believe the H215 offers the enhanced precision and stability we require, which will not only boost mission readiness but will also build up our fleet capabilities. We are happy to further this partnership with the Airbus Helicopters team in Japan that understands our needs and has supported our operations for many years.”

Currently operating 45 Airbus helicopters, Nakanihon Air specialises in activities covering emergency medical services, electronic news gathering, as well as passenger and goods transportation in Japan. The air services company also runs an Airbus-approved maintenance centre for H135 helicopters, while major inspections of the operator’s existing Super Puma fleet are performed at the manufacturer’s Kobe maintenance facility.

“We are pleased to support Nakanihon Air’s growing business. We thank our customer for their continued confidence in our long-lasting relationship as demonstrated by this first H215 order,” said Guillaume Leprince, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Japan. “Thanks to a 4-axis dual duplex digital autopilot system in an intuitive glass cockpit, the H215 provides enhanced mission efficiency and safety while simplifying crew workload. We are confident that it will be an asset to Nakanihon Air, offering the excellent performance they expect.”

The twin-engine, heavy-lift H215 is a member of the Super Puma helicopter family, known for its high availability rate, performance, and competitive operating cost. Equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, the rotorcraft consists of two versions — one tailored for multi-role operations and the other for aerial work and utility missions.

There are currently 28 helicopters of the Super Puma family in Japan flown by civil operators, parapublic operators, and the Ministry of Defense for various search and rescue missions, coastguard operations, fire-fighting, as well as Private and Business Aviation and commercial air transport missions. 

LEONARDO: WORKING TO BRING THE AW609 TILTROTOR TO THE JAPANESE MARKET.

Posted by dgualdo on 07/03/2019
Posted in: HAI Heli-Expo 2019 ... Atlanta, GA, Leonardo Helicopters NEWS. Tagged: , , .

Leonardo is deploying a global campaign for the world’s first multirole commercial tiltrotor.

  • Leonardo and Nakanihon Air Service sign an MoU to evaluate tiltrotor operations in Japan for transport and public service roles.
  • Leonardo is deploying a global campaign for the world’s first multirole commercial tiltrotor.
  • The AW609 is now entering mass production ahead of FAA certification.
  • The first Full mission flight simulator will be operational in 2020 in USA.

Atlanta, 7 March 2019 – Leonardo and Nakanihon Air Service, Co., Ltd. of Japan (Nakanihon Air Service) signed at Heli-Expo a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a joint working group that will study requirements for introducing the AW609 commercial multirole tiltrotor into service in Japan. Leonardo already supplies a range of advanced rotorcraft technology to the benefit of Japanese civil and government users.

The AW609 represents the next generation of aircraft transport under the all-new, rigorous power lift civil certification category being set by FAA, and is now entering the mass production phase at Leonardo Philadelphia facility. In line with market interest, the AW609 first Full Motion simulator will be available in 2020.

The AW609 excels at reaching people in hard-to-access areas including densely populated citycenters; high mountains, coastlines, and far-flung islands; and low population regions where the nearest hospital is many miles away—all with unprecedented performance and all-weather capabilities.

Thanks to turboprop-like speed, a 25,000 ft altitude and 2000 km maximum range, users will benefit from unique flying capabilities above adverse weather and a pressurized cabin for maximized comfort and patient medical treatment, while maintaining rotorcraft vertical take-off and landing / hovering versatility.

Nakanihon Air Service said: “At Nakanihon Air Service we operate about 80 aircraft, both fixedwing aircraft and helicopters, and we are very interested in the new tiltrotor category. Through this joint working group with Leonardo, we would like to explore the applications of the AW609 to future aeromedical services, disaster emergency response and news coverage as well as new areas of business.”

During the next 12 months, the working group will leverage the Nakanihon Air Service experience as one of the largest fixed and rotary wing operators in Japan and a Leonardo Authorized Service Center for decades in delivering charter, goods transport, aerial photography and EMS/SAR services across the nation to identify opportunities for the world’s first multirole / commercial tiltrotor in Japan and offer the AW609 for a range of roles such as transport and

EMS/SAR. Their combined fixed/rotary wing operational and service expertise makes Nakanihon Air Service the ideal partner.

There are over 130 helicopters in service in Japan performing law enforcement, emergency medical service, search and rescue, firefighting, disaster relief, VIP/corporate transport, electronic news gathering and naval utility.