Hokkaido Aviation Co., Ltd.

Hokkaido Aviation Co., Ltd. (HKK) is a Japanese aviation company headquartered at Sapporo Okadama Airport in Higashi-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido. It describes itself as Hokkaido's only industrial aviation company and the oldest in the region, operating both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Its business spans news gathering for television, radio and newspapers; aerial photography for commercials, films and TV; survey and inspection flights for resource development and environmental monitoring; sightseeing and charter flights; personnel and cargo transport; construction support; hangar rental; maintenance support; and radio station inspection. It also holds a surveying business license for aerial photographic surveying and general surveying. The company was established in May 1966 (Showa 41), building on a club-format operation started in 1964. It was incorporated by taxi operators in Sapporo and later passed through the Tokyu Group before becoming part of the Tsutai Group led by Higashi Nihon Ferry in 1979. After Higashi Nihon Ferry's bankruptcy in 2003, Hokkaido Aviation continued as an independent company, having performed well enough to stand alone. Its main base is Sapporo Okadama Airport, with additional hangars at Memanbetsu Airport and Teshikaga. Hokkaido Aviation serves a wide range of public and private clients, including the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, the Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau, the Forestry Agency, Hokkaido Prefecture, various municipalities, Hokkaido University, and major media organizations such as Hokkaido Shimbun, Yomiuri Shimbun, Kyodo News, Asahi Shimbun, HTB, UHB, TVh, ANN, FNN, TX and NHK. It is a member of the All Japan Aviation Business Federation and the National Aircraft Business Cooperative. The company operates a fleet that has included Beechcraft C90A, Cessna TU206G, Aerospatiale AS350B2, AS365N2/N3 and Eurocopter EC135T2 aircraft. It employs around 30 people and is privately held, with a employees' shareholding association among its shareholders.

Hokkaido Aviation traces its origins to 1964, when it began as a club-format aviation operation. In May 1966 (Showa 41), it was incorporated as Hokkaido Aviation Co., Ltd. by taxi operators in Sapporo, becoming Hokkaido's first industrial aviation company. The company obtained its aviation transport business license and aircraft use business license on April 27, 1966 (both under Air Monitoring No. 154). In the early years, the company faced financial difficulties. In 1973, it came under the umbrella of Tokyo Express Electric Railway (Tokyu Group). However, by 1979 it had accumulated an operating deficit of over 206 million yen, and there were discussions about transferring it to another company or merging it with Taiyo Aviation, also under the Tokyu Group. In 1979, it became part of the Tsutai Group led by Higashi Nihon Ferry. A transfer agreement was signed in October between Tokyu and Higashi Nihon Kanko, a subsidiary of Higashi Nihon Ferry, and the transfer was completed on November 21, 1979. After Higashi Nihon Ferry went bankrupt in 2003, Hokkaido Aviation, having demonstrated sufficient business performance, continued as an independent company. It has since maintained its base at Sapporo Okadama Airport and expanded its operations to include hangars at Memanbetsu Airport and Teshikaga. The company has provided aviation services for news gathering, aerial photography, surveying, and sightseeing for over half a century, serving clients such as government agencies, media organizations, and private companies. It remains a privately held company with around 30 employees.

• 2003

  After Higashi Nihon Ferry's bankruptcy, continued as an independent company.

• 1979

  Became part of the Tsutai Group led by Higashi Nihon Ferry; transfer completed on November 21.

• 1973

  Came under the umbrella of Tokyu Group.

• 1966

  Incorporated as Hokkaido Aviation Co., Ltd. in May; obtained aviation transport and aircraft use business licenses on April 27.

• 1964

  Started as a club-format aviation operation.

Hokkaido's oldest and only industrial aviation company, providing public-interest aviation services and tourism flights from Sapporo Okadama Airport.

• Sightseeing flights (SKY Cruise, Night SKY Cruise)

  Leisure flights over Hokkaido's scenery.

• News gathering flights

  Aerial coverage for TV, radio, and newspapers.

• Aerial photography

  Commercial, film, and TV aerial photography.

• Survey and inspection flights

  Resource development, environmental monitoring, and other surveys.

• Personnel and cargo transport

  Transport services by aircraft and helicopter.

• Hangar rental and maintenance support

  Hangar leasing and aircraft maintenance support services.

• Radio station inspection

  Second-class radio station inspection business.

• Surveying business

  Aerial photographic surveying and general surveying.

1. 1ヘリコプターと飛行機のHKK北海道航空／airplane & Helicopter Hokkaido Aviationhokkaido-koku.co.jp
2. 2会社案内 - ヘリコプターと飛行機のHKK北海道航空／airplane & Helicopter Hokkaido Aviationhokkaido-koku.co.jp
3. 3Hokkaido Aviation - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4北海道航空 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org