Hop, Step, Jump Tokyo – Inter-Island Shuttle



INTRODUCTION

Greetings!

This report details a recent weekend trip from Tokyo down to Hachijojima.

In my first trip report, I was asked by Gabrielchew for day trip ideas from Tokyo. A little late (apologies) but, this may provide one possibility. The area covered is a little similar to my first report (this is almost an extension of that report), but I offer this suggestion for anyone with a spare day in Tokyo and who wants an outing with an aviation element.

This trip can be done in a day, or you could do as I did and make a weekend of it.

BACKGROUND

I am not sure how others feel but for me, getting the chance to travel on a helicopter is a real novelty. So I was very keen to log my first flight on a commercial helicopter on the only scheduled commuter service using helicopters in Japan.

The objective is to get down to Hachijojima. Now you could this by jumping straight onto an ANA flight direct from HND. But where’s the fun in that?!



Toho Airservice is a company that operates helicopters for commercial purposes all over Japan. Primarily they offer chartered services to industry and media etc, but they also run a commuter service between the Izu-Islands, south of Tokyo with a pair of Sikorsky S76 operating as Toho Airline (TAL). The service uses the name ‘Tokyo Ai-Land Shuttle’, a play on the Japanese ‘Ai’ meaning love.

THE TRIP

Trip Route


Stage One – 23rd July 2011

Carrier: ANA
Flight: ANA1843
Aircraft: Bombardier DHC-8-Q300
Depart: Tokyo Haneda – HND/RJTT
Arrive: Oshima Airport – OIM/RJTO
Departure time: 08:55

Getting up nice and early to make our morning flight from HND. There had been a typhoon passing through the region for the past week, but luckily the worst was over and we didn’t have to make any cancellations.

Starting the day underneath the main concourse at HND waiting for a bus.



The short bus ride to the opposite side of the apron to the terminal building landed us next to a DHC8-Q300. Not the rarest of aircraft but still my first time on the type.


ANA have a new sponsorship deal with this site!!?  

Our seats put us just behind the blades.


Which have been kindly supplied by the good people at Hamilton Sundstrand.


We taxied out for take-off which gave me my first use of the new Runway-D. This trip was producing a few firsts for me.

Interesting cloud formations as the sea air rises over the hills on the Miura Peninsula.


Crossing over to Oshima was certainly a quick trip. The seat belt sign was only off for a minute or two before we were already on approach and lined up for a smooth landing.

Getting off the aircraft the ground crew were relatively forgiving towards those who wanted to take pictures.


Unsurprisingly I was the last man left standing on the apron. Also just preparing to return to Chofu Airport in West Tokyo was this Do228-212 of New Central Airservice (NCA). This is an interesting alternative to getting to Oshima in the morning and the flight arrives about five mins before the ANA flight from HND. For a little more information about this service you can see my first trip report. (Link at bottom)


Now if you’ve hung about like me taking some photos it may well be getting on towards 10:00. Your next stage will be departing from the same airport at 14:55. So you have over 4 hours to burn. So what to do??

It may be an idea to hire a car for a few hours. We chose to take a taxi up to, Mt. Mihara, an active volcano and the highest point on the island. Our driver was a lady and was very chatty. I recommend that you take the drivers number. You may need it later.

View up to summit from the start point of the walk to the summit. Not high so it makes for a nice walk. Approx an hour to get there and an hour to get back.


Horses.


The Izu Islands are made up of this black volcanic rock. The whole area had the faint smell of sulphur.


I would be happy it was there if I needed it, but I would never want to have to use it. Volcano Shelter!?


Gases leaking out the side of the mountain. The higher up you go the stronger the smell gets. It’s not overpowering but it’s pretty foul.


The shrine near the top. Framed in the centre is Mt. Fuji. It would be best to do this in winter if you want to get clear views.


Back at the road, a quick word with the local policeman to find out how to get to the “squirrel park”. You can get there directly by bus. He suggested the local small zoo might be more interesting but I guess I have a soft spot for squirrels. He did promise that there would be lots of them….

He wasn’t lying!!!!.....





There were rabbits too.


A viewing platform gave a view down to the runway at Oshima Airport in the distance.


By this point it was time to be getting back so we called up our trusty taxi lady and got a ride back to the airport.

Stage Two

Carrier: Toho Airline (TAL)
Flight: 52
Aircraft: Sikorsky S76C+
Depart: Oshima Airport – OIM/RJTO
Arrive: Miyakejima Heliport - ___/____ (?)
Departure time: 14:55

The Toho Airline (TAL) check-in desk. It still wasn’t quite open yet. You can also just see the New Central Airservice check-in desk on the right (And ANA on the left).


The TAL/Ai-land Shuttle route map.


To waste a little time we head up to the observation deck on the roof. Now waiting for us alone on the apron.


Heading back down we checked in at the now open desk and paid for our tickets.
A couple of important points…!!!
Ticket reservation is by phone only, and payment is cash only on the day of travel. No credit cards and no internet booking!
Also, baggage allowance is only 5kg per person! So be careful what you take with you.

One of the most interesting boarding passes I’ve ever been given.


Heading out onto the ramp.



You can’t book online but you can see seat reservation information. Looking at it, there are many flights which are sold out. Today however there were only three of us.



Space inside for nine plus the two pilots. With almost nobody in there it felt a bit like a private flight.


Cockpit details.







I have been on a helicopter flight only once before, but that was a JASDF CH-47J and it was noisy as hell!!
As the engines started and the rotor blades began to spin I was waiting for something similar, but to my surprise it was much quieter than I was expecting. There were no ear guards/headphones supplied.

We taxied out on to the runway and….
Went straight up!


Heading out over the ocean.



Toshima in a glowing sea. You can get there with the same helicopter service.


Twenty minutes after leaving Oshima and we are almost on Miyakejima.



Once down on the pad, no one got in or out… so after a quick two minute check list we going up again.

Stage Three

Carrier: Toho Airline (TAL)
Flight: 32
Aircraft: Sikorsky S76C+
Depart: Miyakejima Heliport - ___/____ (?)
Arrive: Mikurajima Heliport - ___/____ (?)
Departure time: 15:20

Heading east around Miyakejima. Not a recent oil spill! A volcanic black beach.


Miyakejima Airport (MYE). You can fly directly here from HND although the service is suspended at times due to volcanic activity.


Safety instruction card.



The jump from Miyakejima is only ten minutes. The clouds were descending and it was quite a dramatic approach. It reminded me a little of that scene from Jurassic Park.


Mikurajima Heliport.


Only a little chain between us and the road.


At this point, the one other passenger got out and it was just us two left. I took the opportunity to switch seats to the back of the cabin. Another quick check list complete and we were off again.

Stage Four

Carrier: Toho Airline (TAL)
Flight: 22
Aircraft: Sikorsky S76C+
Depart: Mikurajima Heliport - ___/____ (?)
Arrive: Hachijojima Airport - HAC/RJTH
Departure time: 15:35

The final leg of the journey to Hachijojima. More great views on the way out.


The cabin was feeling very exclusive now.


The weather was getting a worse and it began to rain lightly. From the start we had never been that high but now I think the pilots had dropped right down to stay out of the clouds above. We really did feel very low, almost skimming the sea.

Finally approaching Hachijojima.


Interestingly we approached the airport much the same as a regular aircraft. A little low perhaps??


Hachijojima Airport Terminal. We are still hovering over the runway.



After powerdown, I asked if I could take a few pics of the cockpit. Pity the instruments were all off.


Could these wheels be any smaller?!



Our only companion on the tarmac; this helicopter belongs with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. Technically, we have never left Tokyo.


The TAL check-in desk at Hachijojima.


If you are going to spend a little time on the island, I would suggest you do as we did and rent a car to get around. Some pics from the island…



Very friendly locals!


A view over HAC.




Very tropical.



The road around the south end of the island. Here be dragons!


Final Stage – 24th July 2011

Carrier: ANA
Flight: ANA826
Aircraft: Boeing 737-700
Depart: Hachijojima Airport - HAC/RJTH
Arrive: Tokyo Haneda – HND/RJTT
Departure time: 14:15

Finally it was time to leave the island. So handing back the car we head back to HAC to catch our flight, this time direct to HND.

The single departure lounge.


View from the lounge.


Finally on board and being pushed back from the gate gave a view of TAL’s operations base.


The road with the dragons that we drove down earlier.


On the way back to HND.


CONCLUSION

A few notes for anyone wanting to try this route…
This is a fun trip that can be done in a day or over a weekend. The scheduled arrival time at HAC is 16:00 though we actually arrived about 15 mins early, possibly due to the light passenger load. There is an ANA flight back to HND at 17:20, so if you are planning to do it in a day you can head straight back.

The cost for the trip from OIM down to HAC on the Ai-land Shuttle is JPY 23,340 per person. You cannot book or pay online but you can check seat vacancy. Though the passenger load on our trip was very light, the service website indicates that many of the flights can be full so it may be a good idea to book early as there are only nine places available, and that is for the whole day! Booking is by phone only and payment is cash only when you check in. You should also call back the day before your flight to confirm your travel.

The luggage limit is only 5kg per person with a JPY 580 charge per kilo over the limit. If you are only going for the day then it shouldn’t be such a problem.

For an alternative to getting to OIM in the morning from Tokyo you can look at my first trip report here…

Tokyo Hop – Ruag Do-228NG First Revenue Flight (by britjap Jun 5 2011 in Trip Reports)


Regards.