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Photos of Mai Baba

Flight Crew / Flight Operations Department, Skymark Airlines Inc.

Mai Baba

Mai Baba

PROFILE
Flight Operations Course: Graduated in March 2012. Having grown up in Shanghai, China until junior high school and having used airplanes many times, he eventually developed an admiration for the aviation industry. After entering high school in Japan, he entered J. F. Oberlin University as a first-term student in the Flight Operations Course. She joined Skymark in 2011 and became the company's first Japanese female captain in 2019. He also gained experience in training personnel development as a route training instructor and pilot. After taking long leave as maternity and childcare leave from 2024, she will return to the field as an operations crew member in April 2026.

Female pilots can have long and successful careers.
To paint a new future

It's been 15 years since I joined Skymark Airlines after graduating from Obirin University. In 2019, I became the company's first Japanese female captain, and I've accumulated over 7,000 hours of flight experience. As a captain, I play a major role from before the flight to after the flight, and my policy has always been threefold: quiet flights, having a Plan B, and proactive preparation to create an environment where I can make the best decisions. It may seem surprising, but the busiest time is often pre-flight preparation and safety checks. The ability to steadily move things forward is one of the essential qualities of a pilot. During my university days, I sometimes experienced setbacks, but I learned the importance of working hard at my own pace, and that continues to support me today.
From 2024, I was away from the field for about two years for Life Events. After returning, we aim to become a pilot model case balancing childcare and career, and to work on improving the working environment that makes it easier for women to work. The sense of fulfillment and joy of piloting that I admired and challenged myself has not changed at all since I first joined. Going forward, I want to continue working positively and create a stage where many people can thrive, collaborating with female pilots from other companies to contribute to the future of the aviation industry.
Images of Daichi Maki

Flight Crew, Captain / J-AIR Corporation

Daichi Maki

Daichi Maki

PROFILE
College of Aviation Graduated in March 2017. Inspired by his father's success as an airline pilot, he set his sights on the world of the sky from a young age. I was drawn to the environment where I could greatly improve my English skills not only by obtaining the necessary licenses for pilots but also by long-term overseas training and classes in Japan, which led me to enter J. F. Oberlin University. After graduation, he joined J-Air Co., Ltd., a company that connects regions with regional jets (small jet passenger aircraft). From August 2025, he will serve as captain and will operate Embraer 170/190 aircraft.

The learning methods I acquired at Obirin
They supported my growth after graduation.

J-AIR Corporation, as a regional airline connecting different regions, operates a large number of flights, accounting for 30% of JAL Group's domestic flights, offering an attractive environment for gaining extensive flight experience. In August 2025, I was promoted to captain, taking on the ultimate responsibility for safe flight operations. I am committed to even greater safety measures and aim to provide high-quality flights that offer peace of mind and comfort to our customers.
Pilots require not only vast knowledge and skill, but also sound judgment and many other abilities. Even now, I have many opportunities to study for work, and the foundation of that is the learning methods I acquired in J. F. Oberlin University. The ability to efficiently organize important points from a large amount of information is cultivated through university lectures and training. I felt that the efforts I put into university were fully demonstrated during training and evaluations for captain promotion.
What I remember most vividly from my university days was my initial training overseas. Living and working together with my peers, building trust, and supporting each other towards the same goal is invaluable in my current work, where teamwork among crew members is essential. Drawing on these experiences, I want to focus not only on improving my own skills but also on training the next generation, passing on my experiences to the next generation of pilots.
Images of Yu Otomo

Flight Crew / ANA Wings Inc., Flight Operations Department, B737 Crew Room, Inspection and Training Group

Yu Otomo

Yu Otomo

PROFILE
College of Aviation Flight Operations Course Graduated in March 2012 (At the time of graduation, it was the Business Management Program, but this is listed as College of Aviation). Under the care of his father, who worked as a mechanic in the Air Self-Defense Force, he spent time in the Self-Defense Force's official residence, feeling close to aircraft. From a young age, I aimed for the world of aviation, and was drawn to the rich international atmosphere, so I enrolled in the flight operations course as a first-year student in J. F. Oberlin University. After graduation, he joined ANA Wings, which mainly operates small aircraft and handles many domestic routes, and was appointed captain in 2020. From October 2025, he will be appointed as a training instructor, spending his days combining flight and training instruction.

We value daily effort and trust.
Supporting air safety as a training instructor

Even after obtaining their licenses, pilots, from juniors to veterans, undergo regular skills assessments to maintain their abilities. The job of a training instructor is to provide the necessary guidance for these assessments. I became a training instructor in 2025 and now instruct many pilots every day, primarily through simulator training. Naturally, I need the knowledge to answer questions from pilots in the field, so when I became an instructor, I dedicated a lot of time to studying, just as I did when I was preparing for the captain certification exam. With the environment surrounding pilots constantly changing due to advancements in aircraft and changes in laws, I strive to provide my students with as much learning as possible, with the aim of improving the safety and quality of their daily operations.
The many skills and knowledge I learned from my teachers at Obirin, including the finer points of technique, still form the foundation and confidence of my work now that I am an instructor. Furthermore, the communication skills I cultivated through dormitory life and overseas flight training are points I hope aspiring pilots will consciously learn. Trust among teammates is essential, both during the training period leading up to obtaining a license and in supporting safe operations as a team after graduation. With diligent effort and the ability to support those around you, you can aim to become a pilot who can have a long and successful career.

Flight Crew, Airbus A350 First Officer / Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.

Ikuki Shinjo

PROFILE
College of Aviation Graduated in March 2019. Raised in Inzai City, Chiba Prefecture, he spent his days dedicating himself to baseball until high school. Although he had admired piloting since he was a child, he only became aware of his future goal when choosing a university. After four years at Obirin, he joined Japan Airlines after graduation. About two years after joining, in 2021, he became the co-pilot of a Boeing 767, and in 2024, he transitioned to an Airbus A350. Currently, his promotion to captain is one of his goals, and he is honing his skills and experience on both international and domestic flights.

Aiming to be a trusted pilot
I want to grow as a person as well.

The appeal of the Flight Operations course lies in its close-knit atmosphere between students and teachers, fostering an environment where students support each other and grow together rather than competing. The importance of "sharing experience and knowledge with others" is something I learned from my teachers at Obirin University and remains a cherished principle to this day. With many crews working together for the first time, we focus on building a team where we can share goals through communication and mutually improve each other.
I am currently in my fifth year as a co-pilot, and I spend my days challenging myself and growing as I work towards promotion to captain. I am motivated by the fact that I can now make more suggestions to the captain regarding flights, and I can feel myself growing little by little. My goal for the future is to become a captain who can accept suggestions from my colleagues and make the best decisions, using my wealth of experience and knowledge.
There's still a lot I need to study, including English, which I struggled with since my university days. However, I feel that growing not only in terms of knowledge but also as a person is crucial for becoming a pilot. For those of you aiming for a career in the aviation industry, I encourage you to broaden your network and participate in various activities during your university years. Encounters with people and experiences will deepen your character and become the strength you need to succeed as a professional and as a pilot.
Images of Ryosuke Otsuki

Flight Crew / All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd., Flight Operations Center, B787 Section

Ryosuke Otsuki

Ryosuke Otsuki

PROFILE
College of Aviation Graduated in March 2020. Inspired by a TV drama, he has admired pilots since childhood. When choosing his career path before entering university, he entered J. F. Oberlin University with a serious goal of entering the aviation industry. After joining ANA, he became a co-pilot in 2022 and transitioned from a B767 to a B787 pilot by 2025. He is responsible for flights to 4 to 5 destinations each month, mainly international routes. After flights, visiting gourmet food and tourist spots is an important time for refreshment, and his current dream is to visit many countries around the world.

As an international flight pilot, I feel
A new step and job satisfaction

I became a co-pilot about two years after joining ANA, and I currently mainly fly international routes. As my flight responsibilities expanded from domestic to international routes, I had to consider more things in addition to safety and punctuality, such as acquiring knowledge about overseas airports and improving customer service on long-haul flights.
On the other hand, now that I'm also flying international routes, the freedom to travel to countries I've never visited before, in addition to the thrill of piloting, has become a new source of fulfillment for me as a pilot. I have a captain promotion exam coming up in a few years, so I'm continuing to study and learn every day, aiming to follow in the footsteps of the captains I fly with.
At Obirin University, I was able to grow significantly as a person through overseas training and guidance from teachers. I was particularly impressed by Professor Michael Kelly's "Aviation English" class, which started in my first year, where I was able to hone not only my English skills but also my ability to express my own opinions.
The appeal of the Flight Operations course lies in the strong support you receive for your efforts, including during job hunting. While there are tough times when you feel overwhelmed and a high level of awareness is required, it was the support of those around me that allowed me to walk the path that led to my big dream.

Flight Crew / ZIPAIR Tokyo Co., Ltd.

Yanako Nagataki

Yaeko Nagataki

PROFILE
Inspired by a drama I watched as a child, I aimed to become a pilot, and when I entered university, I left my hometown of Osaka to join the J. F. Oberlin University Flight Operations course. After graduation, I joined an LCC and was promoted to co-pilot in my second year. I accumulated flight experience, mainly on domestic routes. Around my sixth year, I joined ZIPAIR Tokyo aiming to become an international pilot for large passenger aircraft. Currently, I am responsible for about 10 international flights per month, mainly to North America, Southeast Asia, and South Korea.

Stepping up with a new challenge
I've finally made it to the stage of long-haul international flights, something I've always dreamed of.

I had dreamed of becoming a pilot since I was little, but at first I was worried about whether it was possible for a woman to do so. I made up my mind when I was in my third year of high school. I still vividly remember traveling all the way from Osaka to Obirin University's open campus and how kindly the teachers treated me.
After graduating, I decided to join ZIPAIR Tokyo after gaining experience at my first company because I believed that new challenges would lead to growth. There were times when I was confused as the environment changed from domestic to international flights, and from small aircraft to medium-sized aircraft. However, by imposing these "trials" on myself, my motivation increased, and I was able to learn more with a fresh perspective. The North American sky I saw on my first long-haul flight appeared different from the scenery I had seen before, and it was even more breathtaking.
I am the only female pilot in our company, and it is true that the world is still dominated by men. Still, I want many women to aspire to become pilots, and I want to be involved in creating such an environment as well. Balancing work and life Events is my goal going forward. Students, please enjoy campus life to the fullest alongside your studies. The ability to enjoy life will surely lead to better jobs.

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