Local governments demand U.S. Forces stop night and morning flights at Atsugi Base

Kanagawa Prefecture and seven cities near the U.S. Navy Atsugi Air Station on July 30 requested the base commander end night and early morning flights around the base by carrier-borne aircraft.

In July, the cities compiled 1,125 complaints from citizens about the noise, 400 of which were in Yamato City where noise damage was particularly severe.

Since June 5, when the U.S. aircraft-carrier Kitty Hawk called at U.S. Navy Yokosuka Base in the prefecture, heavy touch-and-go exercises were going on at the base, causing noise in the area.

The prefecture and the seven cities requested maximum restraint of flights from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., restraint from low-altitude flying and formation flights, not to fly over densely populated areas, and supply of necessary information. (end)