Yokota cedes some airspace back to Japan

[unhappycamper]

Yokota cedes some airspace back to Japan
Kyodo News Agency
Posted : Friday Sep 26, 2008 8:59:22 EDT

TOKYO — The U.S. returned portions of military-controlled airspace west of Tokyo’s Haneda airport to Japan on Friday as part of a 2006 bilateral agreement on the realignment of the U.S. military presence in Japan, said the Public Affairs Office of U.S. forces in Japan.

The transfer of control from the radar approach control authorities at Yokota Air Base allows commercial planes to take routes at lower altitudes when flying westward from Haneda airport, thus reducing flight time, saving fuel and cost, and cutting carbon dioxide emissions.

“Returning the airspace garners good will toward U.S. forces by helping to reduce travel time and pollution in the community,” said Michael Bishop, the 5th Air Force’s deputy operations director. “It also provides better flow control for Japanese air traffic control and Yokota, as well.”

According to the Public Affairs Office, the benefits of the transfer include reducing flight times by about 7,200 hours per year, approximately 8.7 million gallons of saved fuel annually, and cost reductions for airlines of about 10.9 billion yen ($102.4 million) per year.


Article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/09/kyo_airspace_japan_092608/%2e