Located 8.1 NM (15.0 km; 9.3 mi) southeast of Ōsaka Station,[1] it is also a home for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Middle Army Aviation Group, Osaka Prefectural Police Aviation Corps, and Osaka Municipal Fire Department Helicopter Unit.

After World War II, the occupation forces called it the Hanshin Airfield before it was returned to Japanese control.

[2] The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force operates a base at the airport, JGSDF Camp Yao (八尾駐屯地).

[4] The Osaka Municipal Fire Department operates two Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin helicopters from Yao.

They are primarily used for firefighting within the city of Osaka but were dispatched overseas to assist with the 1991 Bangladesh cyclone and the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.