About US

Message

Diamond Air Service Inc. (DAS) was founded on October 2nd, 1989, as a group company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (MHI) responsible for microgravity experiment flights.
In early days, we began operations by undertaking a part of the aircraft repair work for the Ministry of Defense organized by MHI.

Since then, in our aircraft operation business, we have responded to customer needs in a wider range of fields – including Earth observation, atmospheric observation, search, photography and filming, communications and broadcasting experiments, and disaster damage assessment – in addition to microgravity experimental flights, thereby contributing to the advancement of science and technology and the enhancement of social infrastructure.

In addition, in the aircraft manufacturing business, we have expanded our scope of responsibilities beyond repair work to include the assembly of new aircraft, playing a role in the manufacturing and repair of Ministry of Defense aircraft under MHI.

Through our two core businesses – aircraft operation and aircraft manufacturing – we have accumulated management and technical expertise across a wide range of fields, including operations, maintenance, design, and manufacturing and repair, based on this foundation, we provide products and services that satisfy our customers.

Moving forward, we will continue to contribute to society by ensuring enhanced safety and quality through the synergistic effects of reliable safety management in our aircraft operations business and strict quality assurance in our aircraft manufacturing business.

Yoichi Naotsuka
President and CEO

Corporate Overview

Company Name Diamond Air Service Incorporation
Foundation October 2, 1989
Capital 20 Million Yen
President Yoichi Naotsuka
Employee 630 (As of June, 1, 2026)
Certification IS-BAO
Head quarter 1 Toyoba Toyoyama-cho Nishikasugai-gun Aichi 480-0293, Japan
(c/o Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Inc. Komaki South Plant)
Phone:81-568-29-0020
Fax:81-568-29-0021
Aircraft BeechCraft Type BE200T (Twin Turbo-Prop) "Super King Air"
BeechCraft Type BE200 (Twin Turbo-Prop) "Super King Air"
Mitsubishi Aircraft International Type MU-300 (Twin Jet) "DIAMOND-I"
Gulfstream Aerospace Model G-IV (Twin Jet) "Gulfstream-IV"

History

1989 October 2 DAS was founded. DAS was founded with the mission of conducting microgravity experiment flight operations and maintaining the aircraft used.
1990 February We embarked on micro-gravity experiment flights on an MU-300 (JA8248). We began conducting experiments with funds from a Grant for Promoting Science and Technology. NASDA (the present-day JAXA) began conducting micro-gravity experiments in September of the same year.
1990 August We set up the Aircraft Repair Division. We started performing periodical repairs for ejector seats and canopy parts for aircraft operated by the Ministry of Defense. (17 people)
1991 September We carried out a search flight on an MU-2 (JA8737) to recover the TR-1 rocket after its launch. We searched for the fallen head trunk of the TR-1A rocket over Tanegashima Island. The head trunk was discovered.
1993 August Aircraft Repair Division. expanded its business. We started performing structural repairs on the outer wings and tail assemblies of F-4 fighters.
1994 February We carried out an OREX data acquisition flight over Christmas Island on an MU-300. DAS's first overseas mission. We waited for OREX to fall into the Pacific Ocean and then succeeded in receiving data.
1995 December We introduced the Gulfstream-II (JA8431: commonly known as the G-II). We purchased a G-II from the East Japan Civil Aviation Bureau of the Ministry of Transport (the present-day Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport) on December 5, 1995. The aircraft was transported from Haneda Airport to Nagoya Airport by air.
1996 April We started equipment maintenance work and set up our Quality Assurance Section. We began inspecting and servicing aircraft maintenance equipment used in the Komakiminami Plant.
1996 August We placed X- and L-SAR systems aboard the G-II and modified the aircraft for observation missions. An observation flight ensued. We carried out large-scale repairs and modifications of the G-II in order to install X-SAR (National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, NICT) and L-SAR (JAXA) systems aboard the aircraft.
1997 April Aircraft Repair Division. expanded its business. We began planning periodical repairs for Japan's self-defense aircraft under contract.
1997 August Aircraft Repair Division. expanded its business. We started aircraft disassembly work for the periodical repairs of Japan's self-defense aircraft.
1998 March We carried out an arctic atmosphere observation flight on the G-II. We carried out an atmospheric observation flight near the North Pole. The aircraft flew from Nagoya to Spitsbergen (lat. 78 degrees N) via Alaska over the North Pole.
1998 August Aircraft Repair Division. expanded its business. We began repairing helicopter tail rotor pylons as part of our periodical repairs for Japan's self-defense aircraft.
1999 November We carried out a mobile communication experiment (N-Star satellite) on the G-II. We built a radome of approx. five meters in height to install a parabola antenna for satellite communications on the upper part of the fuselage of the G-II.
2000 Throughout the year We conducted an SAR concentrated observation flight on the G-II. We surveyed crustal movements caused by the volcanic eruptions of Mt. Usu and Miyake Island and synchronized the G-II with NASA's DC-8 observation aircraft to conduct an observation flight.
2001 September We carried out a search flight on an MU-2 to recover the H-IIA rocket fairing. We carried out a search flight to recover the satellite fairing of the H-IIA rocket after its post-launch fall onto the sea.
2003 November We flew over Antarctica to photograph a total eclipse from the G-II. We flew a private jet to Antarctica for the first time ever to broadcast live images of a total solar eclipse for NHK in real time.
2005 July We began flying simple zero-gravity experiment flights for the public. We flew 18 flights on the G-II and three flights on an MU-300 from the start date up to the end of September 2014.
2006 March We carried out an observation flight to record high-definition videotape footage on the G-II. NHK videotaped the Japanese archipelago with a high-definition camcorder from the sky. We flew the G-II from Yonaguni Island to Hokkaido.
2006 September We carried out a cloud observation flight on an MU-300 to prepare for a rocket launch. We directly observed cloud configurations immediately before a rocket launch.
2008 March We introduced and started operating a Beechcraft B-200T (JA8824). We purchased a Beechcraft B-200T on May 9, 2007 from The Japan Coast Guard. We modified the aircraft for rain-making and atmosphere observation and carried out an atmosphere observation flight over East Asia.
2008 November We obtained JIS Q 9100 and ISO9001 certificates.
2010 July We began preparations for operating our parts kit center. We started preparations to operate the center with plans to open in April the following year.
2011 March We carried out X-SAR observation flights to survey damage from Great East Japan Earthquake disaster on the G-II. We carried out observation flights on March 12 and 18, 2011 (one day and one week after the earthquake struck).
2011 November We conducted a Thai flood disaster observation (L-SAR) flight on the G-II. We carried out a flood damage observation flight in Thailand at JAXA's request.
2012 February We carried out a carbon aerosol observation flight on a B-200T. We carried out direct measurements of PM2.5 levels in the East China Sea under a project carried out for three consecutive years.
2014 March We introduced a second Beechcraft B-200 (JA20DA) and started aerial photography flights on the aircraft. We conducted daily flights to shoot aerial photographs for map-making application.
2014 April We set up the Aircraft Assembly Department. Operations to construct new helicopters were transferred from MAP to the Dotoku Plant.
2014 May - July We integrated the workshops of the Aircraft Repair Department. during renovations to the Komakiminami Plant. We integrated workshops scattered all over the plant into the newly built No. 8 hangar to improve work efficiency.
2014 September We relocated the head office and constructed the Engineering Department. building. We renovated the Komakiminami Plant and moved the head office to another part of the plant.
2015 April We set up the Logistics Department. The Komakiminami physical distribution work of the former MHI ASL was transferred to the Logistics Department. The Logistics Department is responsible for receiving/shipping and packing components and performing physical distribution work in the plant.
2016 April Aircraft Repair Department expanded its business. The disassembly wok for the periodical repairs of Japan's self-defense aircraft after carrying-in was transferred to the Aircraft Repair Department.

Access

Head quarter

Address： 1 Toyoba Toyoyama-cho Nishikasugai-gun Aichi 489-0293, Japan
(c/o Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Inc. Komaki South Plant)
Access：

In case of public transportation

Bus stop in front of JR Nagoya Station (Midland Square)
Midland Square ⇒ MITSUBISHI JUKO MINAMI

  • Travel time: About 25 minutes
  • Bus fare: 800 yen
  • For details, visit the website of Aoi Traffic Corp

In case of Car Driving

For the guest from Tokyo side

Route 1

    1. Toumei highway(Nagoya IC)→ enter to Higashi-Meihan highway
    2. Higashi-Meihan highway(Kusunoki IC Exit)→Route302 to Route41
    3. Turn Route302 to the right at "Ogama" crossing and enter Route41 North for Takayama and Nagoya Airport
    4. Turn Rooute41 to the right at "Aoyama" crossing and go straight and find Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Inc. Komaki South Plant on the left side

Route 2

    1. Toumei highway (Komaki Junction)→enter Meishin highway
    2. Out at Komaki IC from Meishin highway→ Go South Route41(For Nagoya)
    3. Turn left Rooute41 at "Aoyama" crossing and go straight and find Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Inc. Komaki South Plant on the left side