Introduction of Fukushima Airport
For customers interested in airplane flight training, here’s a bit of information on Alpha Aviation.
With Alpha Aviation you get up close and familiar with the absolute latest in airplane technology. We conduct training of aspirants seeking licenses all the way from private pilot license, commercial pilot license, instrument rating (single- and multi-engine), multi-engine type rating, commercial flight instructor etc.
One feature of Alpha Aviation at Fukushima Airport is that we can plan a curriculum to revolve around when you can make the time, making it much smoother towards success. This is what has made is what we do, bringing a large number of aspirants to completion and graduation. We have good employment rate as well with our graduates obtaining jobs in large airlines.

The aircraft we use are Diamond DA40 series (single-engine) and DA42 (twin-engine), next-generation airplanes. So students enjoy the G1000 glass-cockpit from day one, making a smooth transition to the twin-engine DA42 which employ the same avionics. Yes, the flight training cost is more expensive in the DA42, but because the student has already gotten used to the G1000 during primary training, the diesel-engines and throttle are really the only things to get used to. This makes it extremely simple and lowers the amount of hours usually needed to complete the type rating. The effect is that most students complete their type rating exam with only around 20 hours on the bill.

Further, at our hangar in Fukushima is our venerable Cessna 172 airplane, JA4124. At 30 years on the calendar since it was built, you could say that it’s nearing retirement age, but with this one having received retrofit ultra-modern technology, it’s been possible to offer efficient training in it.
As the most prominent of these modifications, is the retrofit of a brand-new Thielert Centurion 2 (similar to the one in the DA42, also based on the 2L engine found in the Mercedes Benz A-class car). A 2L four-cylinder, four-valve, DOHC, liquid-cooled, common-rail injected FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) 135 horse-power engine.

The biggest difference to the engines usually used is the FADEC system employed. Through this electronic system the pilot can handle all engine parameters through one single lever. Already being used to how to drive a car, most pilots will quickly feel at home with this control which in works similarly. It’s simple to start up even in very cold or hot environments. There’s no need to worry about mixture settings, propeller etc. decreasing the workload considerably. The Jet A-1 burn rate is 4.4 gallons per hour and that’s half of the AvGas equivalent resulting in more cost-efficient utilization.
From 2014 the biennial flight review system will be inargurated. From this point, if you don’t obtain a renewal of this endorsement, you can’t fly. In light of all the above, the use of our C172 for obtaining the endorsement is a very good proposition.

It’s hard to wish for a better environment to do flight training in than Fukushima Airport. Looking from a weather-perspective, there is no time during the year where there’s any special impact on the training, ensuring a steady progress towards the pilot license. There’s still some hangover from the 2011 earthquake but there’s miraculously not been any damage to Fukushima Airport so there’s been full access to and from it throughout. It became a hotspot of emergency aid helicopters from the entire nation, and airplanes from all over the world carrying supplies to the Tohoku areas. There’s still role for the airport in future emergency preparation for the entire Kanto area. There’s a lot of protection from the topography etc. so there is very low manifestation of any radioactive substances, a subject we hear much worry about. You can safely conduct flight training at Fukushima Airport.

You can’t do training in truly next-generation airplanes and technology outside Alpha Aviation.
You can freely choose between the latest glass-cockpit technology or the latest diesel-engine technology.
We’re hoping to see you at what we call “Beautifukushima”.