ID :
112433
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 22:10
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/112433
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U.S. agrees with Japan to return Okinawa air control on March 31+
TOKYO, March 18 Kyodo -
The United States officially agreed with Japan on Thursday to return on March
31 air traffic control rights around the main Okinawa island that have long
been controlled by U.S. forces in Japan, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said
Thursday.
The move means that Japan will basically regain air traffic control rights over
Okinawa for the first time since the southern island returned to Japan from
U.S. occupation in 1972.
The two countries initially agreed in 2004 to finish the transfer of the Kadena
radar approach control, known as ''Kadena RAPCON,'' within three years. But
they rearranged in 2008 to set the deadline at March this year.
Air traffic over Okinawa has been controlled by the Kadena RAPCON system at the
U.S. Kadena Air Base in Okinawa. The system covers airspace up to an altitude
of about 6 kilometers within a radius of about 90 km of the base, as well as
airspace over Kume Island, a small island situated west of the main Okinawa
island.
The system has controlled not only U.S. military airplanes but civilian flights
using Naha Airport and the airport on Kume Island.
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada welcomed the agreement in a statement issued the
same day and stressed the importance of finding solutions to bilateral issues
through cooperation.
''Although there are various tasks related to U.S. forces in Japan...I would
like to overcome each issue so that the Japan-U.S. security arrangements will
be operated more smoothly and effectively,'' he said.
The agreement came as the two countries are struggling to resolve the issue of
where to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa, with
Japan hoping to review a related bilateral agreement reached in 2006.
Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will be in
charge of air traffic control after the transfer, according to the ministry's
press release.
Air traffic control of the Kadena base and Futemma Air Station, meanwhile, will
continue to be managed by the United States.
The Kadena RAPCON will also change its name to Naha Approach Control.
Okinawa was occupied by the United States after World War II and now hosts the
bulk of U.S. military facilities in Japan.
==Kyodo
The United States officially agreed with Japan on Thursday to return on March
31 air traffic control rights around the main Okinawa island that have long
been controlled by U.S. forces in Japan, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said
Thursday.
The move means that Japan will basically regain air traffic control rights over
Okinawa for the first time since the southern island returned to Japan from
U.S. occupation in 1972.
The two countries initially agreed in 2004 to finish the transfer of the Kadena
radar approach control, known as ''Kadena RAPCON,'' within three years. But
they rearranged in 2008 to set the deadline at March this year.
Air traffic over Okinawa has been controlled by the Kadena RAPCON system at the
U.S. Kadena Air Base in Okinawa. The system covers airspace up to an altitude
of about 6 kilometers within a radius of about 90 km of the base, as well as
airspace over Kume Island, a small island situated west of the main Okinawa
island.
The system has controlled not only U.S. military airplanes but civilian flights
using Naha Airport and the airport on Kume Island.
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada welcomed the agreement in a statement issued the
same day and stressed the importance of finding solutions to bilateral issues
through cooperation.
''Although there are various tasks related to U.S. forces in Japan...I would
like to overcome each issue so that the Japan-U.S. security arrangements will
be operated more smoothly and effectively,'' he said.
The agreement came as the two countries are struggling to resolve the issue of
where to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa, with
Japan hoping to review a related bilateral agreement reached in 2006.
Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will be in
charge of air traffic control after the transfer, according to the ministry's
press release.
Air traffic control of the Kadena base and Futemma Air Station, meanwhile, will
continue to be managed by the United States.
The Kadena RAPCON will also change its name to Naha Approach Control.
Okinawa was occupied by the United States after World War II and now hosts the
bulk of U.S. military facilities in Japan.
==Kyodo
