(SACC) Shizuoka Air Commuter Corporation

Helicopters that serve as public vehicles contribute to society by playing an active role in all fields, such as firefighting, disaster prevention, emergency medical care, press, police, personnel transportation, and goods transportation. Maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services rendering to such public helicopters need improvisations in addressing the downtime in aircraft maintenance and the conditions for airworthiness under each aviation law. Considering the Japanese aviation industry in the APAC region, the MRO services have been long challenging with the downtime involved in MRO to effectuate periodic and crucial aircraft operations. The stringent implications of the Japanese aviation law have driven Shizuoka Air Commuter Corporation (SACC) to implement advanced technology and skilled engineers to reduce downtime in MRO-centric services.

SACC has been pioneering MRO services to lead general aviation while also improvising uptime for crucial aircraft operations in emergency medical service, police, fire department, and others.

SACC recognises the critical roles of public service helicopters and provides top priority to safety and consistency in helicopter operations, maintenance, training, etc., contributing to Japanese society and the region.

SACC, born in 1991, as the first aviation company in Shizuoka prefecture in Japan, operates the Shizuoka Air Rescue team, news planes, and charter planes based in Shizuoka Heliport. In addition, the company operates emergency medical services at two locations in Niigata prefecture in Japan. In April 2019, SACC established the Leonardo Excellent Service Center (certified maintenance factory) in Japan, certified by Leonardo Helicopters (one of the world’s leading helicopter manufacturers), which gave rise to the SACC MRO business at Shizuoka Airport. Furthermore, in 2022, Fuji Aviation Systems (FAS), SACC’s parent company, installed the first full flight simulator of the Leonardo AW139 helicopter in the vicinity of Shizuoka Airport and started providing pilot and mechanic training. FAS has another business jet operating company known as Fuji Business Jet(FBJ), which operates the FALCON, Cessna, for the regional charter flights.
“Through the synergy effects of each of the Group’s businesses, we have built a new aviation business model for the first time in Japan and aim to be a one-of-a-kind aviation business group that provides the latest technology and the highest quality of airworthiness and safety,” says, Shinichi Yonehara, president, and CEO.

SACC’s MRO has been designed by Leonardo Helicopters with high-level equipment and a suitable environment for engineers and helicopters as an excellent service center. For instance, the hangar at Shizuoka air base is fully air-conditioned, allowing engineers to work in a comfortable environment. SACC also has a certification for airworthiness inspection by Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB). SACC’s excellent service center equips high-level technology and quick logistics for the parts while instilling high-skill engineering support. Leonardo and SACC have a contract to improve the downtime for Leonardo Helicopters, and currently, this synergy is challenging to reduce the downtime for customers in Japan. Such efforts enable SACC’s clients to effortlessly run their aircraft operations, all the while upholding the highest standards of safety and operational efficiency.

With over 200 years of history, Suzuyo& Co., Ltd., FAS’s parent company, generates much value in establishing the regional economy for logistics, facilities, energy, foods, DX, and Aviation. More importantly Suzuyo intends to improve the technology for general aviation for Japan in Shizuoka Pref. Especially in aviation, Fuji Dream Airlines(FDA), a regional airline, and the FAS group derive value from human relations across regions. All of these efforts create win-win scenarios for clients, empowering them to maximize the value of MRO-centric services.