Okadama Airport
Encyclopedia
is an airport
located in Okadamachō, Higashi-ku
, Sapporo, Hokkaido
, 4 NM north of the city center of Sapporo. Its scheduled airline service is limited to turboprop
flights to other cities in Hokkaidō
: larger aircraft use New Chitose Airport
, 45 km (28 mi) south of the city. The airport is also used by the Japan Self-Defense Forces
and by corporate and general aviation
operators: an adjacent facility houses the air traffic control
center for Hokkaido and the Tohoku region
.
. Following Japan's surrender to the United States in 1945, ending World War II
, the United States Army Air Force took over the airfield, holding it until the end of the US occupation in 1952. Following the occupation, the field reverted to the Japan Self-Defense Forces
.
Civilian passenger operations began in 1956. Toa Domestic Airlines (later Japan Air System
) and All Nippon Airways
operated propeller service at the airport through the mid-1970s, chiefly using NAMC YS-11
turboprops, but gradually transferred domestic operations to New Chitose Airport
which was better equipped to handle larger jet aircraft. In 1974, Toa ceased operations at Okadama and ANA established a new subsidiary, Air Nippon
, to handle YS-11 flights at the airport. ANA later replaced its YS-11s with quieter Bombardier Dash 8 turboprops.
ANA ceased Okadama operations in 2010, leaving JAL affiliate Hokkaido Air System
as the airport's only scheduled carrier. HAS continues to serve the airport using Saab 340
turboprops.
is located on the property of Okadama Airport. Previously the airline was headquartered in the New Chitose Airport
terminal in Chitose
.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located in Okadamachō, Higashi-ku
Higashi-ku, Sapporo
is one of the 10 wards in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is directly translated as "east ward", and is neighboured to Kita-ku, Chūō-ku, Shiroishi-ku, Ebetsu, Tōbetsu.- Overview :...
, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, 4 NM north of the city center of Sapporo. Its scheduled airline service is limited to turboprop
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
flights to other cities in Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
: larger aircraft use New Chitose Airport
New Chitose Airport
, is an airport located south southeast of Chitose and Tomakomai, Hokkaidō, Japan, serving the Sapporo metropolitan area. By land area, it is the largest airport in Hokkaidō....
, 45 km (28 mi) south of the city. The airport is also used by the Japan Self-Defense Forces
Japan Self-Defense Forces
The , or JSDF, occasionally referred to as JSF or SDF, are the unified military forces of Japan that were established after the end of the post–World War II Allied occupation of Japan. For most of the post-war period the JSDF was confined to the islands of Japan and not permitted to be deployed...
and by corporate and general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
operators: an adjacent facility houses the air traffic control
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
center for Hokkaido and the Tohoku region
Tohoku region
The is a geographical area of Japan. The region occupies the northeastern portion of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region consists of six prefectures : Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata....
.
History
Okadama was constructed between 1942 and 1944 as an airfield for the Imperial Japanese ArmyImperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
. Following Japan's surrender to the United States in 1945, ending World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the United States Army Air Force took over the airfield, holding it until the end of the US occupation in 1952. Following the occupation, the field reverted to the Japan Self-Defense Forces
Japan Self-Defense Forces
The , or JSDF, occasionally referred to as JSF or SDF, are the unified military forces of Japan that were established after the end of the post–World War II Allied occupation of Japan. For most of the post-war period the JSDF was confined to the islands of Japan and not permitted to be deployed...
.
Civilian passenger operations began in 1956. Toa Domestic Airlines (later Japan Air System
Japan Air System
was the smallest of the big three Japanese airlines, headquartered in the JAS M1 Building at Tokyo International Airport in Ōta, Tokyo. In contrast to JAL and ANA, its international route network was very small, but its domestic network incorporated many smaller airports that were not served by...
) and All Nippon Airways
All Nippon Airways
, also known as or ANA, is one of the largest airlines in Japan. It is headquartered at the Shiodome City Center in the Shiodome area in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. It operates services to 49 destinations in Japan and 35 international routes and employed over 14,000 employees as of May 2009...
operated propeller service at the airport through the mid-1970s, chiefly using NAMC YS-11
NAMC YS-11
The NAMC YS-11 is a turboprop airliner built by a Japanese consortium, the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation. The program was initiated by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1954, the aircraft was rolled out in 1962, and production ceased in 1974.-Development and design:In...
turboprops, but gradually transferred domestic operations to New Chitose Airport
New Chitose Airport
, is an airport located south southeast of Chitose and Tomakomai, Hokkaidō, Japan, serving the Sapporo metropolitan area. By land area, it is the largest airport in Hokkaidō....
which was better equipped to handle larger jet aircraft. In 1974, Toa ceased operations at Okadama and ANA established a new subsidiary, Air Nippon
Air Nippon
, is a regional airline based in the Shiodome City Center complex in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. A wholly owned subsidiary of All Nippon Airways , it mainly operates short routes and flights to isolated islands in support of ANA's domestic services...
, to handle YS-11 flights at the airport. ANA later replaced its YS-11s with quieter Bombardier Dash 8 turboprops.
ANA ceased Okadama operations in 2010, leaving JAL affiliate Hokkaido Air System
Hokkaido Air System
, or HAC, is an airline with its headquarters on the property of Okadama Airport in Okadamachō, Higashi-ku, Sapporo. It operates scheduled domestic services in Hokkaidō. Its main base of operations is Okadama Airport.- History :...
as the airport's only scheduled carrier. HAS continues to serve the airport using Saab 340
Saab 340
The Saab 340 is a discontinued Swedish two-engine turboprop aircraft designed and initially produced by a partnership between Saab and Fairchild Aircraft in a 65:35 ratio...
turboprops.
Other facilities
The headquarters of Hokkaido Air SystemHokkaido Air System
, or HAC, is an airline with its headquarters on the property of Okadama Airport in Okadamachō, Higashi-ku, Sapporo. It operates scheduled domestic services in Hokkaidō. Its main base of operations is Okadama Airport.- History :...
is located on the property of Okadama Airport. Previously the airline was headquartered in the New Chitose Airport
New Chitose Airport
, is an airport located south southeast of Chitose and Tomakomai, Hokkaidō, Japan, serving the Sapporo metropolitan area. By land area, it is the largest airport in Hokkaidō....
terminal in Chitose
Chitose, Hokkaido
-Economy:China Airlines operates its Sapporo office on the third floor of the airport building.The airline Hokkaido Air System was at one time headquartered at the New Chitose Airport in Chitose...
.
Airlines and destinations
JGSDF units
- Northern Air Corps Headquarters (Beechcraft King Air 350Beechcraft Super King AirThe Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation . The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model 100 series , Model 200 series and Model 300 series...
) - Northern Helicopter Corps (H-6Hughes H-6The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a single-engine light helicopter with a four-bladed main rotor used for personnel transport, escort and attack missions, and observation...
, UH-1) - No. 7 Division Airborne
- No. 11 Division Airborne