Takeoff/Landing Sites for Z-LegTM Helicopter Charter Service Exceed 100

Tokyo, September 19, 2025 — Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., announced today that the number of available takeoff/landing sites for the Z-Leg^TM helicopter charter service now exceeds 100. This milestone was reached as a result of Kawasaki making steady efforts to expand service coverage across Japan.

Kawasaki has been developing new off-airport sites across Japan in order to make more locations accessible to its 13 alliance partners’ helicopters. These include hard-to-reach destinations, remote islands, mountainous regions, and other locations that had previously been difficult to access by helicopters. This process was undertaken in compliance with the Japanese Civil Aeronautics Act, which requires service operators to obtain permission from the government should they intend to use locations other than airports or heliports for the take-off or landing of their helicopters*. Launching off-airport sites and making them available for anyone 24/7 not only enhances convenience for tourists and business travelers by increasing the number of more accessible locations and reducing travel time, but also contributes to resolving various societal challenges—from narrowing regional accessibility disparities to reducing the time it takes for relief workers to respond to disasters.

Also, as regulations and guidelines are being established to promote societal implementation of next-generation air mobility (e.g., electric vertical take-off and landing [eVTOL] vehicles), Kawasaki’s network of Z-Leg^TM takeoff/landing sites can potentially serve as valuable infrastructure to support the increased use of air travel.

With the goal of expanding the network of off-airport sites to 500 by fiscal 2027, Kawasaki is steadily making progress in driving the “air travel revolution” in Japan. To that end, initiatives are being implemented for both the further enhancement of the safety, security, and convenience of modern air travel and the building of an infrastructure that will contribute to the growth of next-generation air mobility.

* In Japan, governmental permission is required for a helicopter to take off or land at locations other than airports and heliports. The approved takeoff/landing sites that Z-Leg^TM operates all meet legal safety requirements (controlled access, control of obstacles and sand/dust, flight log-keeping, etc.), and its helicopters are serviced and operated in compliance with such requirements. In developing off-airport takeoff/landing sites, Kawasaki leverages its expertise in aircraft development, production, operation, and servicing. Since flight safety always comes first, staff at its department which specializes in producing aircraft manuals prepare technical drawings for off-airport sites based on obstacle limitation surfaces (OLS) data taken on site. These drawings are then used in applying for governmental permission to take off and land at off-airport sites.

Message from Tomohiro Horii, Z-Leg™ Project Leader

Achieving 100 off-airport sites is a milestone that is sure to expand air travel across Japan and dramatically increase people’s mobility. This network will certainly serve as an infrastructure which enhances convenience for tourists and business travelers, and as a critical asset for emergency transport when disaster strikes. We are committed to expanding the network further.

As “Sora-no-hi” (Sky Day) approaches on September 20, we feel strongly that there is great potential in the skies of Japan. Kawasaki’s expertise in helicopter operations and our network of takeoff/landing sites can be repurposed for next-generation air mobility and as a societal infrastructure for the future.

It is our mission to make helicopters a more accessible means of mobility and to build an air travel infrastructure for the future. It goes without saying that we are committed to upgrading the convenience of mobility services, but we are also focused on building a foundation for the future where increased use of air space is needed in order to minimize the environmental footprint incurred by road construction and land transport as well as maintenance of roads and other public facilities.

Z-Leg^TM Services’ Track Record
A wide variety of travel services have already been offered, including a one-day trip to Izu; a tour of Shizunai and Tomamu in Hokkaido for racehorse owners; a visit to the Fukui Dinosaur Museum and Eihei-ji Temple; shuttle service for the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix; pickup and drop-off services for luxury resorts in Okinawa; and tours of cultural heritage and scenic spots on Sado Island. Moreover, Z-Leg^TM has been utilized for disaster relief activities that required immediate response. For the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, our helicopters transported relief goods to the affected areas.

For achieving more convenient mobility services, our strategies include further expansion of the takeoff/landing site network; increased collaboration with fixed-wing aircraft, chauffeur services, and other mobility services; development of diverse tour plans accommodating different seasons and purposes; and digitization of bookings and flight control.