Japan's government approved setting up of low altitude exercise route: U.S. Forces

The U.S. Forces have admitted that airplanes frequently carrying out low-altitude flight exercises in Yamanashi Prefecture belong to the U.S. Yokota Air Base, and that the Japanese government agreed with them on setting up the exercise route, according to Akahata of January 26.

There are several such routes over the Japanese archipelago, but this is the first time for the U.S. Forces in Japan to officially acknowledge that the Japanese government has officially approved such a route.

On January 23, residents of Nakatomi Town in Yamanashi, a prefecture near Tokyo and north of Mt. Fuji, saw three aircraft flying low. Asked by Akahata about this, U.S. Yokota Base's Public Affairs Office said that these planes were from Yokota.

Yokota also said that a flying zone has been set between 500 feet (about 152 meters) and 1000 feet (304 meters), based on an agreement with the Japanese government.

The Japanese government has so far maintained that "the Japanese government can't give details to this question because it is on U.S. affair" (Foreign ministry North American Affairs Bureau director general at the House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting on February 25, 1998).

The Aviation Law bans aircraft from flying below 300 meters over buildings in densely populated areas, and below 150 meters high in other areas. Many U.S. aircraft were monitored flying low over densely populated areas in Otsuki City and Kajika-zawa Town in Yamanashi.

During 1999 and 2000, U.S. F-14 fighters were witnessed in the Fuji River and Hayakawa River regions, and U.S. FA-18 fighters near the southern foot of Mt. Yatsugatake. In 22 cities, towns, and villages in Yamanashi, U.S. low flight exercises have been witnessed.

Seven town mayors among these municipalities have sent messages
to Akahata, expressing indignation at the loud noise and terrible danger caused by the flights. (end)