A helicopter and light-aircraft specialist keeping Okinawa's remote islands connected.
Toho Air Service is an independent, Okinawa-based airline founded in 1964. Using helicopters (the Sikorsky S-76 and Bell 412) and fixed-wing light aircraft (the DHC-6 Twin Otter), it operates helicopter and light-aircraft routes to Okinawa's remote islands such as Aguni Island and Kumejima. The company also provides corporate charter flights and offshore oil-field support services.
Flying Okinawa's beautiful skies as a helicopter pilot offers an appeal quite different from fixed-wing flying. Helicopter handling is highly demanding, calling for distinctive skills such as VFR flight, low-altitude flying, and precision landings. As a stable company with more than 60 years of history, it lets pilots obtain and maintain licenses for both helicopters and light aircraft.
* 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 |
¥10M–¥15M |
¥12M | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
¥6M–¥9M |
¥7.5M | Seniority-based |
All figures are pre-tax and shown in Japanese yen (¥); Japanese income tax applies to pilot earnings. Bonuses are paid twice a year in line with independent-carrier practice. Remote-island and Okinawa allowances are paid separately and added according to route and mission. 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 | ¥3M–¥4.5M | est. |
| First Officer — Junior | 3–5 yrs | ¥6M–¥7.4M | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | ¥6.8M–¥8.2M | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | ¥7.7M–¥9M | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | ¥10M–¥12.3M | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | ¥11.4M–¥13.6M | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | ¥12.8M–¥15M | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
Toho Air Service's main operations include the Naha–Aguni Island helicopter route and the Naha–Kumejima route (served by both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft), along with charter flights for corporate and government clients, maritime and remote-island emergency-transport support, and aerial-photography and survey work. Helicopter operations here demand precise vertical take-off, landing and hovering techniques, the ability to cope with Okinawa's maritime weather and typhoons, and readiness for night flying and special missions; pilots qualified on both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft are especially valued.
Sikorsky S-76 (medium helicopter), Bell 412 (multipurpose helicopter), and DHC-6 Twin Otter (fixed-wing light aircraft), all operated from the Naha base within Okinawa Prefecture.
Type-rating training is conducted on the Sikorsky S-76 and Bell 412. Pilots master the complex systems, autopilot, and instrument flying of twin-engine turbine helicopters, and highly advanced handling skills are required.
Training to handle Okinawa's maritime weather (typhoons, squalls, and strong winds). Pilots acquire Okinawa-specific skills such as over-water hovering, approaches to remote islands, and emergency-landing techniques.
The opportunity to hold and maintain both helicopter and fixed-wing licenses. Mastering the different handling characteristics and safety management of each builds broad insight as a pilot.
Upgrade to helicopter captain requires abundant flight hours and a high-level skill assessment. Recurrent proficiency checks one to two times a year maintain a continuous safety standard.
As one of Japan's rare pilots on helicopter passenger routes, you can build unique expertise and a distinctive career.
Based in Naha, enjoy Okinawa's rich nature and culture every day — a fulfilling lifestyle in a resort setting.
Enrollment in the company health-insurance society, dedicated pilot health-management support, and full loss-of-license insurance.
A complete retirement-pay scheme, backed by a stable corporate foundation with more than 60 years of history.
Support for obtaining and maintaining both helicopter and fixed-wing qualifications, enabling a diverse set of piloting skills.
Type-rating training costs are covered by Toho Air Service, and a support scheme also covers helicopter proficiency-check costs.
Hiring status: Check the official site for current hiring status (as of March 2026)
Hiring status varies by period; please check the Toho Air Service official website. Both helicopter-experienced and fixed-wing-experienced pilots are welcome to apply.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toho Air Service 🇯🇵 | ¥10M–¥15M | ¥6M–¥9M | ~33% (Japan) |
| ANA 🇯🇵 | ¥22M–¥35M | ¥14M–¥21M | ~33% (Japan) |
| JAL 🇯🇵 | ¥22M–¥35M | ¥14M–¥21M | ~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.
Toho Air Service captain pay averages about ¥12M per year (range ¥10M–¥15M), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
Toho Air Service first officer pay averages about ¥7.5M per year (range ¥6M–¥9M), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
Toho Air Service Pilot Recruitment — Captain / First Officer (F/O) — helicopter and fixed-wing experience. Key requirements — Eligibility: Holder of a Commercial Pilot License (rotorcraft or aeroplane); Location: Naha Airport, Okinawa Prefecture; English requirement: Aviation English Proficiency Level 4 or above. Hiring status varies by period; please check the Toho Air Service official website. Both helicopter-experienced and fixed-wing-experienced pilots are welcome to apply.
Toho Air Service captains average ¥12M, versus roughly ¥27M at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.