Flight training of suspected U.S. military aircraft called “violation of Japan-U.S. agreement”
Nov. 6, 2010
by Kenji Wadaki, Staff Writer
On November 3, a male company employee, 57, a resident of Saeki Ward, Hiroshima, photographed a jet plane, believed to be a U.S. military aircraft, that was flying over the vicinity of Mt. Garyu in the town of Kitahiroshima. An association of residents in northern Hiroshima Prefecture, who are calling for an immediate halt to all low-altitude flights by U.S. military airplanes, have analyzed the information and concluded that the aircraft was an F/A 18 Hornet fighter, a U.S. military jet. The group drew attention to the fact that “The flight is in violation of the Japan-U.S. agreement which stipulates that flight maneuvers on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays are restricted to critical situations.”
According to the company employee, he took the photo at a location along Route 191 at Higashi Yawatahara in Kitahiroshima. He caught sight of an aircraft flying from west to east, twice, at 1:31 p.m. and 1:35 p.m. He said that he did not know whether he witnessed the same airplane twice, circling and flying in the same direction, or two different airplanes.
The man said, “I think they were flying at an altitude of roughly 500 meters. They made a roar, like the sound heard near a railroad bridge when a train passes by.”
The Japan-U.S. agreement specifies that flight maneuvers made on weekends and holidays must be restricted to critical situations. Yukinobu Okamoto, deputy director general of the residents’ association of northern Hiroshima Prefecture, first mentioned the possibility that the jet plane belonged to the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and commented: “Maneuvers on holidays, which are banned in principle, have become a problem.”
The town of Kitahiroshima has thus far not received reports of aircraft sightings from its residents.
(Originally published on November 5, 2010)
Airplane photographed in town of Kitahiroshima on holiday of November 3
On November 3, a male company employee, 57, a resident of Saeki Ward, Hiroshima, photographed a jet plane, believed to be a U.S. military aircraft, that was flying over the vicinity of Mt. Garyu in the town of Kitahiroshima. An association of residents in northern Hiroshima Prefecture, who are calling for an immediate halt to all low-altitude flights by U.S. military airplanes, have analyzed the information and concluded that the aircraft was an F/A 18 Hornet fighter, a U.S. military jet. The group drew attention to the fact that “The flight is in violation of the Japan-U.S. agreement which stipulates that flight maneuvers on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays are restricted to critical situations.”
According to the company employee, he took the photo at a location along Route 191 at Higashi Yawatahara in Kitahiroshima. He caught sight of an aircraft flying from west to east, twice, at 1:31 p.m. and 1:35 p.m. He said that he did not know whether he witnessed the same airplane twice, circling and flying in the same direction, or two different airplanes.
The man said, “I think they were flying at an altitude of roughly 500 meters. They made a roar, like the sound heard near a railroad bridge when a train passes by.”
The Japan-U.S. agreement specifies that flight maneuvers made on weekends and holidays must be restricted to critical situations. Yukinobu Okamoto, deputy director general of the residents’ association of northern Hiroshima Prefecture, first mentioned the possibility that the jet plane belonged to the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and commented: “Maneuvers on holidays, which are banned in principle, have become a problem.”
The town of Kitahiroshima has thus far not received reports of aircraft sightings from its residents.
(Originally published on November 5, 2010)
