As a treat to myself, I decided to take the MCAS (Mori Building City Air Services) helicopter service to Tokyo's Narita Internarional Airport today. I'm flying back home for Christmas after a long, hard year; so why not? The one-way fare is published at 45,000 JPY (about 530 USD) but I get a preferential rate because I live in a Mori Living apartment building in Tokyo.

The helicopter service operates from the helipad on the roof of ARK Hills in central Tokyo, and flies to the Sakura heliport which is about a fifteen minute drive from Narita Airport itself; so this is really a hybrid fly/drive option. To be honest though, the worst part of getting to Narita is getting out of central Tokyo itself, plus apparently the Narita heliport itself has a tendency to get socked in with fog.

The service includes car service from your home/office to ARK Hills, use of the MCAS Lounge on the 37th floor there, the helicopter flight (of course) and the car transfer to NRT itself. I timed my journey at 55 minutes from the time I locked the front door of my apartment in Atago Green Hills to the time I walked up to the BA first class checkin.

The day started with a telephone call at 7.30am from MCAS to confirm the operation of my flight and the 9am car pickup. This was not a huge surprise, because the weather conditions were perfect - with a view of Mt Fuji from my balcony. If the weather does prevent the helicopter flight, MCAS will provide substitute limousine service if requested or just cancel the reservation and allow you to make your own way.

At about 9.05am, I made my way down to the carriage-porch to find the limousine waiting for me. The service was provided by Hinomaru -- which is a familiar name as a taxi firm to Tokyo residents -- but the vehicle was a bit plusher than your typical Crown Comfort. This was the Toyota Century: the flagship Toyota vehicle (a variant of which is used as the official car of the Japanese royal family), upholstered unusually in dark grey leather rather than the normal velour cloth.

A short ride through the back streets of Kamiyacho and Toranomon, past the Okura hotel, lead to ARK Hills. I was greeted on arrival by an MCAS representative who took me through a locked back door to the elevator up to the 37th floor, and the lounge.

On a clear day, the view from here is spectacular and today was very clear. The lounge itself was small but comfortable. Given that each service will have no more than 4 passengers, it's actually rather spacious. Travelers on the service have the option of requesting access to the ARK Hills private members club for a meal or to use a meeting room, but I didn't take up this offer.

I was brought a cup of coffee made to taste and perused the adult beverage section briefly; deciding against a slug of Hennessy XO in my coffee (that's not mixing brandy). The design was stylish with a display tank apparently full of small jellyfish, a large plasma TV -- rather mysteriously set to a French language news channel when I arrived with plenty of comfortable seats; especially as it seemed I was the only passenger for this flight.

Just as I finished my coffee, the lounge host came to inform me that the aircraft was about to arrive and that we should make our way to the roof. At this point, there was a security check -- this is after all a scheduled air service! I was briefly wanded (no bag X-ray or any such thing) before we made our way up the elevator to the roof level. The host confirmed my suspicion that I would be the only passenger onboard.

The helicopter arrived after about 1 minute, and my luggage was placed in the hold at the rear (n.b. for the heavier packers: one bag only, and subject to quite a strict linear-inches measurement); the staff placed steps up to the helicopter and allowed me to board. MCAS operates the Eurocopter EC135, in two versions -- one 'regular' and one with Hermes design features like glove leather upholstery. This was the former; but perfectly comfortable; although would've been I suspect a little snug with four taller passengers aboard. I don't think wheeled carry-ons are permitted; I only had a smaller shoulder bag which was no issue.

After checking I was securely buckled-in, the ground crew retreated and we took off for the quick flight to the Sakura heliport -- rising up and backwards a little before nosing down and beginning the forward motion. The flight path seemed to be more or less due east; affording a marvelous view of southern Tokyo and the bay from my window; including a rarely-seen aerial view of the Rainbow Bridge. It's difficult to overstate what a spectacular view you get from flying over central Tokyo in a helicopter.

The flight was very smooth (although I'd forgotten how noisy even quiet passenger helicopters are) and soon we arrived into the Sakura heliport; which is really quite a nondescript facility. The rotors of the helicopter were allowed to spin down completely before the steps were brought to the door and I was welcomed to the final part of my trip. A car was waiting for me -- this 'just' a Crown Royal sedan, but very adequate for the brief run along the expressway to the airport.

Just about 9.55am, we arrived at the far end of Terminal 2; the driver retrieved my bag (the first time I'd been in possession of it since leaving home) and wished me a safe journey with the customary bow.

FIN.

My helicopter; mine, all mine:

Certainly overall it's more exclusive than the train -- but depending on where you are coming from, it's kind of sad that the train (especially the new Keisei Skyliner) could be faster.

The service would be much more attractive if it actually landed at NRT airside, avoiding the need to go through security again.

Actually those cases are so rare it is hardly worth mentioning. You would be hard pressed to find a faster service to the check-in counter unless starting in Nippori or Ueno or their immediate environs.

It can land airside but you still need to go through national immigration and security. Landing airside takes longer though due tot the regulation to allow a certain number of inbound and out bound planes to use the same airspace. That requisite delay makes offsite at Sakura much faster.

They are relatively rare cases, but there are more of them since the new Skyliner came online. I'd say if timed properly (also required for the heli which is a scheduled service), a taxi to the Skyliner from the 4S Maronouchi, for example, might be as fast.

Still, the dream trip would be to go through security and immigration before boarding the heli at Ark Hills and then be taken directly to airside without the need for further formalities. I recognize the frequency doesn't currently justify that but that would really be fabulous, wouldn't it?

There is no way the 4S Marunouchi to Ueno in a cab then on the new Skyliner is faster than a cab to ARK and a 15 minute helicopter ride and limo to the check in counter. Not even close. The heli flies when there are bookings.

Would be nice to do immigration in the city and someday that may occur, but not in the near term is my bet.

What a great report! Thanks NickW !

I wouldn't go as far as to say "not even close." The trip apparently took NickW 50 minutes from door to door. On the new Skyliner, it's about 40 minutes from the platform at Nippori or Keisei Ueno to the platform at T2. Factoring in the cab ride you are maybe looking at 1:10 door to door.

Sure you save.20 minutes with the chopper, but it seems like you also lose 20 minutes dealing with the hassle of intermodal transfers, security checks etc. along the way.

FWIW, a former boss of mine claims that it's even faster to take his Ferrari on the Higashi-Kanto outbound at 6 AM.

It can be done very fast by car, if you're willing to risk your licence. I usually drive if I'll be on a regional flight (i.e. no exhaustion and jetlag to deal with on the drive back to Tokyo), since the valet parking services are extremely reasonably priced at NRT. e.g. the USA parking J3 option.

But the caveat about 'willing to risk your licence' is important: 40km/h over the limit is the key number on the expressways. 140km/h is a 3 point penalty; 145km/h is a 6 point penalty and therefore an immediate 30 day suspension.

Based on the original post, I didn't think price was a consideration for you...

Thanks for the TR. Heading to the PH next week, may consider this.

Thanks!

Thanks NicKW , fun way to go to NRT!

I would say 40% faster is "Not Even Close".

Intermodal transfers consist of a car waiting helicopter-side to take you to the check-in counter. Screening consists of a a wanding prior to ascending the stairs to the helipad. you may lose a minute or two (literally). About the smae time it takes on the escalators at NRT Term. 1 station. Definitely I would say, "Not Even Close".

Now if they could simply get UA some routes out of HND I could cut my home to airport time even further.

That's pretty dang cool. Reminds me of the scene in Inception when Watanabe flies them to the airport.

It should do, as far as I can tell it's where they filmed that scene for the movie.