 Stop flying over residential areas: Okinawan mayor on resumed U.S. helicopter exercises Ignoring opposition from Okinawa prefecture, cities, and residents, the U.S. Marine Corps based at the Futenma Air Station in Okinawa on October 13 resumed flight exercises over residential areas with CH53D helicopters, the same type as the one that crashed at a university near the base in August. The CH53D transport helicopters flew over residential areas in Ginowan City in 30-minute flight exercises. Such exercises with CH53Ds have been suspended since August 22, when six CH53Ds left the base for Iraq. Ginowan Mayor Iha Yoichi on the same day visited the U.S. Marines command and protested the resumed flights: "Residents near the base have been shocked by the crash. As the mayor responsible for citizens' safety, I demand that the U.S. Marine Corps stop flying their helicopters over residential areas." Okinawa International University, the site of the August 13 helicopter crash, also issued a statement demanding that the U.S. forces stop helicopter flight exercises and the U.S. Futenma base be closed. The U.S. Marines Corps explains that resuming the flight exercises is necessary for checking their operational capabilities and that a squadron with five CH53Ds will relocate to the U.S. Marine Corps Iwakuni Air Station in Yamaguchi within the week. * * * Regarding the two U.S. aircraft-related incidents, the October 4 F-15 mid-air collision and the FA-18 parts falling on Chatan Town in June, the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly adopted a unanimous resolution in protest on October 13. It calls for a thorough investigation into these accidents, the publication of their results, suspension of flights of F-15s and FA-18s until accident preventive measures are established, realignment and reduction of U.S. military bases in Okinawa, and cuts in U.S. forces personnel in Okinawa. (end) |