13:31 on December 9 without a helicopter

Fukui Airport, a “forgotten airport” that even local residents have rarely been to.

There, a grand plan to connect with Disneyland and USJ by helicopter came down.

The airport changes, Fukui changes.

The citizens of the prefecture, the governor, members of the Diet, and the mass media all had a dream.

However, the helicopter did not fly.

(Fukui Broadcasting Station Reporter Yutaro Miyamoto Director Yuichiro Okawa)

The "dream plan" that flew in

The beginning of the matter is Fukui Airport on April 27, 2022.

Mr. Masayasu Hamatsu, president of Celestial Airlines in Tokyo, made an announcement at a gathering of not only the media, but also the prefectural mayors and legislators.

Masayasu Hamatsu, President of Celestial Airlines

"Let's fly to Tokyo Disneyland by helicopter. Let's fly to USJ. Let's make Fukui Airport the gateway to the world."

It was a surprising plan to launch a helicopter flight from Fukui Airport to the Tokyo metropolitan area, Osaka, and tourist destinations in Fukui Prefecture.

Fukui Airport, located in the city of Sakai in northern Fukui Prefecture, has not had regular flights since 1976.

One 1,200-meter long runway that cannot be used by large jets remains, and it is usually used as a training ground for doctor helicopters, disaster prevention helicopters, and glider enthusiasts.

It has become a “forgotten airport” with few opportunities for local residents to visit.

A helicopter there?

Here's the company's plan:

[Fukui Airport -]

Tokyo Disneyland one-

way 84 minutes

fare 22,000 yen

Universal Studios Japan (USJ)

one-way 42-47 minutes

fare 18,000 yen

Dinosaur Museum (Katsuyama City, Fukui Prefecture)

one-way 5 minutes

fare

7,700 yen

Both prices are per person for a 6-passenger helicopter.

It was announced that the flight will start in May.

It takes three and a half hours to get from Fukui to Tokyo by taking a limited express train and a Shinkansen.

It takes less than half the time and is not out of reach.

Going to Tokyo by helicopter, like a foreign star, will it become a familiar means of transportation?

The people involved raised their hands in joy.

Fukui Prefecture Governor Tatsuji Sugimoto

"I'm very excited and thrilled to see the movement to start a new business at Fukui Airport."

The company unveiled two helicopters at Fukui Airport, and also conducted a demonstration flight to and from one of the prefecture's leading tourist destinations, the Dinosaur Museum.

We also covered the situation, and reported this plan extensively on the evening news of the day.

The next morning's newspapers also had big headlines.

The media also danced to the dreamlike plan.

Helicopter... can't fly?

However, even in May when it is scheduled to go into service, the helicopter still does not fly.

"I 'm

worried if I can really fly on May 1st, the scheduled date

. "

Furthermore, on May 10, the day after Golden Week, a shocking article appeared in the newspaper.

"No helicopter flight from Fukui, Celestial Airlines permission not applied"

I felt bloodthirsty.

I tried to confirm with the company, but the phone number listed on President Hamatsu's business card could not be reached.

I sent an email and got no reply.

After interviewing the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, which has jurisdiction over the air transportation business, we were able to confirm that the company had not applied for a business license or notified an agency.

However, if the plan is changed or withdrawn, it is necessary to confirm with the company.

Even when I asked for an explanation through Fukui Prefecture, I received only a vague answer, saying, "The company's website will provide some kind of answer in the near future."

The news reported in April had a great impact and received a great response from viewers.

If the information is different from the facts, it will cause a big misunderstanding.

I was impatient.

Two days later, the company announced on its website that it would start accepting reservations around July.

As usual, the phone does not connect and does not respond to inquiries.

“Fukui Airport Helicopter Flight Schedule Change Announced, Business Plan Unclear”

Although it was reported on the news that night, there were still unclear points.

The feeling of self-reproach that I had accepted the company's announcement did not disappear.

deepening suspicion

Helicopters will not fly even in July, when reservations will be accepted.

It didn't even look like the reservation had started on the website.

The company's phone still doesn't work, and the call goes to answering machine without ringing.

No return emails.

I visited the office of the company, which should be in Fukui Airport.

Celestial Airlines signed a contract in April to use two rooms on the second floor of the airport building as offices.

You can't get inside because it's locked, and no one comes out even if you knock.

The manager of the airport building company said he had not seen anyone enter or leave the room since April.

There are no curtains or blinds in the office.

I took a peek inside from the observation deck of the airport, which can be freely entered and exited.

There was nothing there.

Fukui Airport Manager Manabu Ogawa

"Rent has not been paid at all since April when the contract was signed. We are also very troubled because we have not been able to contact the company even after asking for payment."

We filed an information disclosure request with Fukui Prefecture, which manages the airport, and obtained business materials submitted by Celestial Airlines.

Among the black-painted parts, my eyes stopped at the column of the equipment used by the company.

The aircraft numbers (aircraft symbols) of the four helicopters scheduled to be used at the airport are listed.

Aircraft used domestically must be registered with the country.

Registered aircraft are listed with a combination of numbers and alphabets starting with JA.

If you look up the aircraft registry based on this symbol, you can find information such as the owner of the helicopter.

All four were owned by different companies.

I tried to confirm with Company A in Kanto, which owns one of them.

Reporter : "A

company

called Celestial Airlines has reported that a helicopter owned by Company A is being used. Do you have any idea?

" No other company can use it for business, and I don't know a company called Celestial Airlines..."

They were going to use a helicopter that can't actually be used.

The "dream plan" was frayed at the start.

"I could not believe it"

Was this plan even feasible?

An active pilot familiar with the helicopter industry spoke on condition of anonymity.

He asked a frank question about the flight plan presented by the company.

Reporter :

" Is it possible to connect Fukui and Tokyo by

helicopter

in 84 minutes one way?"

The cruising speed of the helicopter was 130 knots (about 240 kilometers per hour).If you calculate this, it will take exactly 84 minutes.However, there are high mountains such as the Northern Alps on the way.The altitude at which the helicopter operates is , Basically, there are many flights below 10,000 feet (approximately 3,000m), so the higher the altitude, the more severe the weather conditions... I think it will be difficult to fly reliably every time.

Reporter

: ``What is the price of 22,000 yen per person?''

Active pilot

: ``I couldn't believe it. About 22,000 yen per person costs 132,000 yen for 6 passengers.It costs 84 minutes, so the unit price per hour is even lower.Even though a large helicopter with a capacity of 7 people is used, a small 4-passenger helicopter is used. The

unit price per hour is much cheaper than a helicopter.It is difficult to imagine with common sense."

"The flight fee naturally includes the operating cost of the aircraft, fuel, insurance, maintenance, and personnel. The cost includes the costs of the pilots, mechanics, flight management, and other support personnel, so if the cost is drastically reduced, there is a possibility that safety will be compromised. We ensure safety by spending money on things like that.”

In business, it is no wonder that products and services that break conventional wisdom appear.

But aviation is a regulated industry.

The establishment and maintenance of a safety system strictly stipulated by law entails considerable costs and cannot be neglected.

Didn't Fukui Prefecture, which operates the airport, have any doubts about the company's plan?

County officials responded to the inquiry.

He was the person who attended the press conference on April 27 next to President Hamatsu.

Toru Hirabayashi, Deputy Director of the Fukui Prefectural Civil Engineering Department

"We heard that at the time of the press conference on April 27, we were all right, that the reservation system had been put into operation, and that we had made arrangements to fly the helicopter. However, I was aware that they had not obtained a license for air transport business or had not registered as an air transport agency business, so I asked them in advance to ensure their legal position.”

Reporter

: "Did you know in advance that you hadn't obtained permission from the government?"

Deputy Director Toru Hirabayashi, Fukui Prefectural Civil Engineering Department

"We heard from President Hamatsu that we had not applied for permission or submitted a notification the day before. However, the person himself said, 'You can get it right away,' so I felt that's what it was."

The prefecture also accepted the company's explanation without question.

No prefectural subsidies were used for this helicopter project.

For that reason, the attitude of scrutinizing the company's business may have become lax.

However, more than that, I felt that the main reason was that Celestial Airlines' plan was attractive to Fukui Prefecture.

There was also a plan to extend the runway at Fukui Airport, but it fell through due to objections from local residents and other factors.

As a result, there have been no regular flights for 46 years.

Buildings are also aging.

Furthermore, although the Hokuriku Shinkansen will be extended to Tsuruga City in Fukui Prefecture in the spring of 2024, famous sightseeing spots such as the Dinosaur Museum, Eiheiji Temple, and Tojinbo are far from the station.

Helicopters were a “dream plan” to solve these problems at once.

Toru Hirabayashi, Deputy General Manager of Fukui Prefectural Civil Engineering Department

“My job was to make sure that Fukui Airport does something about it, and that it has to meet the needs of the new era. It's the first company to say, 'You can try using it.' The possibility of using Fukui Airport, which had been forgotten, has emerged, and I think it will come out."

A project that began with a single-minded desire to do something about declining airports and regions.

That's why I should have proceeded more carefully.

When I asked him that, he answered weakly.

Fukui Prefectural Civil Engineering Department Deputy Director Toru Hirabayashi

: “I am very sorry for causing confusion.”

More than half a year had already passed since the plan was announced.

A direct hit to the company and a reply from the president

Were local expectations disappointed?

I visited the headquarters of "Celestial Airlines" to ascertain the truth.

The registered head office was located in a corner of an office building in the city center.

The mailbox in the small three-story building did indeed bear the name "Celestial Airlines."

However, the names of other companies (B, C) are also listed.

While wondering, I knocked on the door of the office, and an elderly man came out.

Reporter: "Are you sure Celestial Airlines' headquarters is here?"

Male: "This is Company B's office, not that company's office."

Reporter: "According to registration, this address should be the headquarters. There was also a name in the mailbox.”

Male

: “I don’t

know

.

Is the president here?"

Man: "He's not. That company has nothing to do with us, and I'm not going to respond to interviews. If you want to know about that company, ask the president himself. I have nothing to do with it. Reporter:

" Then

where is the president?"

Male: "

I don't know

."

The man told the office, which is believed to be the headquarters of Celestial Airlines, that the company did not exist.

However, he admitted that there is a person who is listed as a company executive in the back of the office.

He asked this person for an interview about his relationship with Celestial Airlines, but he stubbornly refused.

While he was in Tokyo trying to interview people involved, he received a notification that he had received an email.

It was an e-mail from President Hamatsu himself, who had tried calling and e-mailing for more than six months without hearing anything.

Regarding the preparation status of the project, the following contents were written.

(1) We have obtained permission to use multiple landing zones (heliports) within Fukui Prefecture

(2) We are proceeding with the development of flight routes connecting Fukui Airport with Tokyo and Osaka

(3) New aircraft to be used for intra-prefecture flights (4) Register

the

new operator and change the name of the group in accordance with the procedures under the Civil Aeronautics Act.

(5) Conduct test flights within the year.

On top of that, it was written that they were aiming to go into service at Fukui Airport when the time was right.

However, the company has repeatedly postponed schedules.

We asked for another interview about the reasons for the postponement, the basis for the project, and how they feel about the people who had high hopes for the plan.

Five days later, I received another reply from the president.

I was unable to get an interview due to lack of time.

Instead, 10 A4 size answers were attached.

Here are some excerpts from the president's comments, which have remained silent until now.

Celestial Airlines President Hamatsu (written answer, original mom)

Reason for the postponement

"We did not want to advertise that we will be in service, but we have prepared materials to explain the use of related residents in advance. In cooperation with the prefecture and Sakai City, (omitted) I made a statement showing an example of how Fukui's sky can be effectively used.Actually, reservations have already been made for several days of consecutive holidays from April 29 to May. (Omitted) The weather, including strong winds, broke from the afternoon of the 28th, and on the 29th we decided that strong winds and heavy rain could not be avoided from the morning of the 29th, so we changed the flight on the 29th and sent the rotor back to Tokyo. Due to the unfavorable weather conditions, we had to postpone the operation of the rotary wing.We have reservations for the dinosaur museum and other places until July.I would like to add that I don't like to get offended, but the operation business. The person is the name of a major airline company."

運航準備は整っていたという主張だが、事業許可の申請や届出が出されていなかった理由には触れられていなかった。

また、事業の根拠や本社の事情について、以下のように記載されていた。

会社の実績
「国内事業に関しては、守秘義務があり多くを公表して居りませんが、（中略）簡単にご説明いたします。国内実績に関して、ある航空機メーカーと国指定の認定を行って居ります。Flight inspectionと言われる認定事業です。運航に関しては、2航空会社受託関連が御座います。固定翼が主ですが、回転翼に関しては、各メーカーの機材精査や試験が御座います。海外実績に関してですが、グループで台湾、香港、アイルランドから航空機リースを行って居ります。アイルランドは現在24機材を他の地域に移し清算し、別地域での設立予定としています。

（登記上の本社にあったB社は）関東地域での空港格納庫建設に関しての受注、発注済、その他グランドサービス事業一部に関して、この会社が請け負っていくものです。共通する顧客もあり、設立当初の本店が再開発で移転となった為に、仮事務所として登記して居ります。（中略）御社の責では有りませんが、先にお伝えしました通りで、関係者や協力者などお名前を出されるのを嫌がる方も居りますし、執拗に連絡して来る方もいる事から、基本的に取材に関しましてはお断りして居ります」

国内外で事業を進めているとしていたが、具体的な内容は不明瞭だった。
そのほかの記述も、取材への批判や逆質問が並べられていた一方で、こちらの質問に対する明確な回答はなかった。

最後に、会社の計画に期待を抱いた人たちに対し、社長の私感として次のように記されていた。

地元の期待に対して
「弊社事業に期待を抱いた方。基本的に他人が行う事業に期待を抱く方はご自身のご都合で期待するだけで、その方々に対して特別のコメントは御座いません」

ヘリは来なかった それでも

季節はめぐり、福井では雪の便りも聞こえてくる時期となった。
ヘリコプターはまだ飛んでいない。福井空港も、あの会見のときのままだ。

だが、何も進んでいないわけではない。

福井県は、老朽化した空港ビルの改修や駐機場の整備、格納庫の設置などに向けて具体的な検討を行う庁内横断のチームを設置した。

セレスティアル航空の発表以降、複数の航空事業者が福井空港の利用を打診してきていて、施設の改修をどのように進めるかなど議論を重ねている。

また、県内の自治体が連携して「空」の活用を検討する団体も動き出し、県と連携しながら観光地の受け入れ態勢の整備などを話し合っている。

突如として、地方空港に舞い込んだ夢の計画。その実現はまだ見えていない。
それでも地元の人たちは自分たちの力で、半世紀近く忘れられた空港を変えようと動き出した。

ヘリコプターのようにひとっ飛びにはいかないかもしれないが、一歩ずつ進むその歩みを、私はしっかりと見つめたい。

※12月12日（月）午前0時～「ドキュメント20min．」（NHK総合）でも放送

番組の詳細はこちらから

福井放送局 記者
宮本雄太郎
2010年入局
札幌局、東京・経済部を経て21年秋から福井局記者
地方経済やエネルギー問題をテーマに「現場」の取材にこだわる

Director of Fukui Broadcasting Station

Yuichiro Okawa Joined the station in

2011 Covering

nuclear policy as a reporter at the Aomori Bureau and the Economic Department in Tokyo

Became the director of the Fukui Bureau in the summer of 2019 and produced documentaries closely related to the region