The number of Osprey flights up 64 %

The number of Osprey flights up 64 %

MV-22 Osprey flying over a residential area in the Samashita district of Ginowan City on September 20.


October 1, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima has previously stated that he would work to ease Okinawa’s US military base burden by transferring military training outside of the prefecture and stopping the operation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma within five years. However, his plan appears not to be progressing. Also, there are still concerns over the safety of the Osprey.

According to a visual inspection carried out by the Ginowan City Government, the number of Osprey flights amounts to 2,341 over the two years since the aircraft was first stationed in Okinawa in 2012.

While the number was 888 in the first year, when the U.S.military started the training, it increased about 1.64 times to 1,453 in the second year, when the military increased the number of Osprey aircraft stationed in Okinawa to 24.

Even though the military is supposed to limit the number of Ospreys training after 10 p.m., it has been carrying out regular late-night training in recent days.

The Japanese government suggested temporarily transferring Osprey training to Saga Airport. However, the U.S.military expressed reservations about it. The plan is likely to be denied.

(English translation by T&CT)

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