New flight routes are set to be introduced March 29 for arrivals and departures at the Haneda International Airport. Flights will increase. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) keeps an arrogant stance for the sake of enhancing international competitive strength, disregarding safety of flight and damages to natural environment. Low-altitude flights over central Tokyo and the Kawasaki industrial complexes cannot be accepted.

STOP! DANGEROUS LOW-ALTITUDE FLIGHTS OVER CENTRAL TOKYO

For the first time in 2014 residents of Tokyo were announced about a flight increase and a change in flying routes. Already in 2010 the government had told about an open sky policy package and capacity enlargement at Narita and Haneda airports, which meant liberalization of air traffic industries and profit escalation of business entities as well as implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between US and Japan.

Since those days inhabitants in the vicinities of Haneda have launched an opposition campaign, pointing out concerns that may produce the new routes and increased flights.

As noise pollution was disastrous at the Haneda Airport, neighboring municipalities have had experiences that the airport facilities were made located off-shore by way of civic movements and resolutions of the local assemblies. A rule ‘to fly toward the Tokyo Bay and land from the sea’ was established. Rules that ‘consultation is necessary when a change occura’ (Ota Ward, Tokyo) and ‘flights over the city are prohibited’ (Kawasaki City, Kanagawa) were set in the memorandum of understanding.

Ministry’s ‘explanations’ ignore people’s voices

The MLIT has held meetings with residents for the past 15 years, but their posture remains sophistic, saying ‘elaborate explanations’, though people have repeatedly said that low-altitude flight is dangerous over populous areas of Tokyo, natural environment may be damaged, and that the issue is grave that cannot be seen in the rest of the world. But the ministry has not listened sincerely to people’s opinions. On August 8, 2019, when many issues were left unsolved, Minister of MLIT publicly told that ‘concerned municipalities had shown a positive posture’, adding that the plan would start on March 29, 2020.

This decision means that the ministry has overlooked the local assembly’s resolutions and documents to oppose the plan which were presented by the Shinagawa and Shibuya Wards. Later the assembly of Minato Ward adopted a document on opposition. It is clear residents do not agree to the ministry’s plan. The transport authority made the decision under duress as time is short to notice the countries of a scheduled increase of flights to be assigned.

The flights are: while south winds blow, landings on the A and C runways count in total 44 during a period from 15:00 to 19:00 and taking-offs are approximately 20 from the B runway, while north winds, departures from the C runway count approximately 22, including a time span from 7:00 to 11:30 in the morning. In particular, a departure from the B runway, aircraft flies over the Kawasaki industrial complex, which has been prohibited. An accident or fallen objects may cause a tragedy.

Uneasiness of visually-impaired people

The MLIT emphasizes safety, issuing a comprehensive package to cope with falling objects. But for the past two years as many as 1,180 components were found lacking at seven airports in the country. If they had dropped over the dense central Tokyo, including Shinjuku and Shibuya, what would have happened? – it should be appalling.

When increases the number of flights, a plane flies every two minutes. Noises will be substantial. In particular, visually-impaired people who rely on auditory perception feel uneasy.

The scheduled test flights, which were initially set from January 30 with an objective to measure noises, were converted to flight confirmation tests of aircraft. Air controllers began to verify operational measures on the new routes, using planes carrying passengers aboard and to check the descent angle of 3.5 degrees (currently 3 degrees). The ministry gives priority to air controlling techniques rather than solving anxieties of residents.

Today residents’ organizations are established in various districts in Tokyo against the new flying routes and increased flights. Rallies are held and parades are staged as well as residents’ groups negotiate with the ministry.

Let’s work to win withdrawal of the government’s decision.

February 18, 2020