January 23, 2014
Okinawa Prefecture on January 21 released survey results indicating an increase in the number of Osprey flights violating the Japan-U.S. agreement.
The prefectural government surveyed the actual status of Osprey flights in collaboration with municipal governments in October and November 2013. It received data about the flights from 14 municipalities.
According to the prefecture, Ospreys stationed at the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma base (Ginowan City) carried out 457 flights during the two months. Of them, 336 flights violated the bilateral agreement requiring the aircraft to avoid flying over residential areas and schools. The figure exceeded by 18 flights the previous figure of 318 recorded in a two month period just after the deployment of the aircraft to the Futenma base in October 2012.
The survey also showed that the number of night flights after 10 p.m. increased to 10 from three during the same period the previous year.
The Defense Ministry’s Okinawa Defense Bureau on the same day announced that between October 2012 and September 2013, the number of Osprey’s takeoffs from and landings at the Futenma base totaled 1,245, including 43 night flights after 10 p.m.
Past related articles:
> JCP Dietmembers in Okinawa see real state of Osprey flights [September 12&13, 2013]
> Ospreys break rules and fly over schools and hospitals [October 5, 2012]
The prefectural government surveyed the actual status of Osprey flights in collaboration with municipal governments in October and November 2013. It received data about the flights from 14 municipalities.
According to the prefecture, Ospreys stationed at the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma base (Ginowan City) carried out 457 flights during the two months. Of them, 336 flights violated the bilateral agreement requiring the aircraft to avoid flying over residential areas and schools. The figure exceeded by 18 flights the previous figure of 318 recorded in a two month period just after the deployment of the aircraft to the Futenma base in October 2012.
The survey also showed that the number of night flights after 10 p.m. increased to 10 from three during the same period the previous year.
The Defense Ministry’s Okinawa Defense Bureau on the same day announced that between October 2012 and September 2013, the number of Osprey’s takeoffs from and landings at the Futenma base totaled 1,245, including 43 night flights after 10 p.m.
Past related articles:
> JCP Dietmembers in Okinawa see real state of Osprey flights [September 12&13, 2013]
> Ospreys break rules and fly over schools and hospitals [October 5, 2012]
