Daiichi Aviation — a small-aircraft commuter carrier linking Okinawa's remote islands.
An Daiichi Aviation (Daiichi Air) captain earns an average of $82K per year, typically $69K–$94K. First officers average $50K ($41K–$60K). Figures are gross annual pay, before tax. Figures are as of March 2026.
Daiichi Aviation (which has operated under its current name since 2005) is an independent commuter airline based in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture. Using ultra-small aircraft such as the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan and the Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander, it operates commuter routes from Okinawa's main island to remote islands such as Aguni Island.
It is an airline that protects Okinawa's lifeline, specializing in the ultra-small-scale remote-island routes that major carriers do not serve. Because it is a very small organization, pilots work as the core of the company. Flying experience on small aircraft — and in particular the varied landing experience gained on single-engine and ultra-small twin-engine types — contributes greatly to improving fundamental flying skills.
* Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks. Verify actual compensation with each airline's official recruitment information.
| Position | Salary Range | Avg / Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain International widebody |
$69K–$94K |
$82K | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
$41K–$60K |
$50K | Seniority-based |
Pay is denominated in Japanese yen and subject to Japanese income tax. Pilots receive a per-flight flight (duty) allowance (roughly $25–$35 per flight for captains and $16–$22 for first officers), plus a separate remote-island allowance set individually by route. Bonuses are paid twice a year on an independent-company standard, and loss-of-license insurance is provided, covering both on-duty and off-duty incidents.
Modeled from the captain / first-officer ranges above, sliced into standard career stages. Bands marked est. are derived from those ranges (not official); verified bands come from active-pilot data. Management pay is crowd-sourced from verified pilots.
| Career Stage | Years | Annual (pre-tax) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cadet / Trainee | ≤2 yrs | $19K–$28K | est. |
| First Officer — Junior | 3–5 yrs | $41K–$50K | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | $46K–$55K | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | $52K–$60K | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | $69K–$81K | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | $76K–$87K | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | $83K–$94K | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
Main routes center on the Okinawa ↔ Aguni Island service (flown by the C208B and BN-2), along with commuter routes between Okinawa's remote islands, charter and special-transport operations, and support for remote-island medical and emergency-supply transport. Flying characteristics reflect ultra-small aircraft operation: precision flying on aircraft of nine seats or fewer, high adaptability to Okinawa's maritime weather and typhoons, precision landings on ultra-short runways and narrow airfields, and a strong sense of mission as a lifeline for island residents.
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan (9-seat single-engine turboprop) and Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander (9-seat twin-engine piston), operated from a Naha (OKA) base as a remote-island specialist within Okinawa Prefecture.
Type-rating training on the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan (single-engine turboprop) and the BN-2 Islander (twin-engine piston). By mastering different powerplants and systems, pilots build a diverse skill set.
Precision-landing training at ultra-small-scale airports such as Aguni Island. Decision-making training under the influence of Okinawa's distinctive maritime weather and typhoons. Pilots acquire STOL landing techniques on ultra-short runways.
Because the company is small, there is abundant direct instruction from captains. Beyond flying skills, pilots gain hands-on knowledge across a broad range of aviation areas — including aircraft maintenance, ground operations, and flight dispatch.
The high number of flights and landings on small aircraft directly builds airmanship. Safety standards are maintained through recurrent checks once or twice a year, and the environment is set up for early upgrade to captain.
Discounted air tickets for employees and their families, making Okinawa's remote-island travel easy to enjoy.
Based in Naha, pilots enjoy Okinawa's rich nature, culture, and cuisine every day, fully savoring a tropical lifestyle.
Enrollment in the company health insurance association, pilot-specific health-management support, and full loss-of-license insurance.
A fully established retirement-allowance program. As a stable independent company, it supports long-term careers.
Experience across many aircraft types — single- and twin-engine, turboprop and piston — an environment that firmly strengthens the fundamentals of being a pilot.
Type-rating training costs are covered by Daiichi Aviation, with support programs for acquiring and maintaining qualifications across multiple aircraft types.
Hiring status: Recruiting — check official site (as of March 2026)
Hiring status varies by period; please confirm on Daiichi Aviation's official site. Applicants with a passion for small aircraft and remote-island routes are welcome.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daiichi Aviation (Daiichi Air) 🇯🇵 | $69K–$94K | $41K–$60K | ~33% (Japan) |
| ANA 🇯🇵 | $138K–$220K | $88K–$132K | ~33% (Japan) |
| JAL 🇯🇵 | $138K–$220K | $88K–$132K | ~33% (Japan) |
* Salary figures are SSOT reference values (pre-tax unless marked tax-free). ANA / JAL shown as the Japan baseline — ~33% income tax applies in Japan, so after-tax take-home is lower than the headline. Tax-free carriers pay 100% take-home. Verify exact figures with each airline.
Daiichi Aviation (Daiichi Air) captain pay averages about $82K per year (range $69K–$94K), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
Daiichi Aviation (Daiichi Air) first officer pay averages about $50K per year (range $41K–$60K), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
Daiichi Aviation Pilot Recruitment — Captain / First Officer (F/O) — hiring experienced small-aircraft pilots. Key requirements — Eligibility: Holder of a Commercial Pilot License (single- or multi-engine, instrument); Location: Around Naha Airport, Okinawa Prefecture; English Requirement: Aviation English Proficiency Certificate, Level 4 or above. Hiring status varies by period; please confirm on Daiichi Aviation's official site. Applicants with a passion for small aircraft and remote-island routes are welcome.
Daiichi Aviation (Daiichi Air) captains average $82K, versus roughly $170K at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.
Dividing the annual average by 12, Daiichi Aviation (Daiichi Air) captains earn about $6.8K a month and first officers about $4.2K. What actually lands each month moves with block hours flown, and where an annual bonus is paid the regular monthly figure sits lower with a spike in the bonus month.
Daiichi Aviation (Daiichi Air) first officers average $50K and captains $82K — a step of about $31K, or roughly 1.6×. The full range runs $41K to $94K, and where you sit inside it is set by seniority, type rating and the routes you fly. The seniority table on this page breaks the same range into career stages.
Every figure on this page is gross, before income tax. Captains average $82K and first officers $50K pre-tax, and income tax, social insurance and any local levies come out of that. Take-home depends on where you are resident and on your own deductions, so no single percentage applies. Airlines based in countries with no personal income tax — the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia — leave more of the same gross figure in your hand.
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