military

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Over 1,000 flights a day expected at U.S. Iwakuni base
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Defense Facilities Administration Agency data show that at the U.S. Iwakuni base in Yamaguchi Prefecture, with a U.S. carrier-borne airwing moving in from the U.S. Atsugi base, the number of flights may well exceed 1,000 a day, significantly different from ﾒan average of 400 times a dayﾓ the agency has been stating to Iwakuni residents.

Akahata has obtained two documents on the data the agency used as a basis of the ﾒ400 times a dayﾓ estimate. The estimate was drawn through a downward adjustment of the combined number of flights a day at the Iwakuni base and of the Atsugi carrier-borne aircraft.

The data show that the maximum number of flights was 1,267 a day. Even on the tenth busiest day, the number exceeded 700. Therefore, a noise pollution assessment the agency gives based on the ﾒ400 times a dayﾓ estimate fails to reflect the severe noise pollution caused by the relocation.

Kume Yoshinori of the Yamaguchi Prefectural Peace Committee commented that the planned relocation will combine combat attack forces of the U.S. Navy and Marines at the Iwakuni base, leading to a drastic increase of landing exercises on the aircraft carrier as well as touch-and-go exercises. Thus, the number of flights will easily surpass ﾒ400 a day.ﾓ
- Akahata, April 5, 2006