Japan Press Weekly

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2013 February 27 - March 5 [US FORCES]

Ospreys to conduct first low-altitude training on mainland Japan

The U.S. Forces Japan on February 28 informed the Japanese government of the plan to move MV-22 Osprey aircraft from Okinawa to the Iwakuni base in Yamaguchi Prefecture in order to carry out their first low-altitude flight training on mainland Japan from March 6 to 8.

Since deployed to Okinawa in October last year, Ospreys have conducted low-altitude training exercises outside Japan, including in the Philippines. However, according to the U.S. “Environmental Report” for the Osprey deployment to Japan issued in June last year, the U.S. plans to conduct low-altitude exercises over six routes around 55 times each.

Moreover, the USFJ hinted that they would perform flight exercises on another route other than the routes specified on the Review list.

Matsuda Kazushi, representative of a peace group in Iwakuni City, said, “It is totally unacceptable for the accident-prone Ospreys to take part in flight training exercises over mainland Japan. Since deployed to Okinawa, Ospreys have been flying at low altitudes over residential areas in defiance of the Japan-U.S. agreement. This has aroused anger and anxiety among residents there. I feel anger, just imagining of the possibility of Ospreys doing the same thing here. I will make efforts to strengthen the protest movement against the training exercises.”

Related past articles:

> MV22s go to Philippines from Okinawa for flight training [January 26, 2013]
> US forcibly deploys Ospreys to Futenma base in defiance of Japanese public opposition [October 1 & 2, 2012]
> Ospreys to fly low altitude over 138 cities, towns, and villages in 21 prefectures [August 13, 2012]