Tuesday, January 4, 2005 at 07:07 JST
TOKYO — Japan and the United States have reached broad agreement on civilian-military use of the U.S. Air Force's Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo, Japanese officials said Monday.

At talks on realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, the United States has expressed intent to accept civilian use of the base as requested by Tokyo in exchange for enhanced cooperation between the U.S. Air Force and Japan's Air Self-Defense Force, they said. (Kyodo News)

really Gooooooooood News!!
Yokota is almost the same size as Narita International Airport!!
some pics of Japan-US Friendship Festival 2004 in Yokota Air Base
F-15
http://web-box.jp/402sq/pic/2003yokota/yokota0824-07.jpg
F/A-18
http://web-box.jp/402sq/pic/2003yokota/yokota0824-13.jpg
F-16
http://web-box.jp/402sq/pic/2003yokota/yokota0824-04.jpg
F-14
http://web-box.jp/402sq/pic/2003yokota/yokota0824-11.jpg

http://web-box.jp/402sq/pic/2003yokota/yokota0824-15.jpg

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

Indeed good news, especially for Tama area residents :)

The US should hand back Yokota and the 4 other airports is has in Tokyo-Kanagawa!

where is Yokata anyways? does someone have a map of tokyo where they can pinpoint its location?

The US should hand back Yokota and the 4 other airports is has in Tokyo-Kanagawa!

agree
airspace in metro tokyo is still under the control of USAF.
I hope US will make restitution of Yokota, instead we will give them nasty old Osaka International Airport (Itami). Osaka has no need of three airports (Kansai, Kobe, Osaka) :clown:

map of Narita, Haneda, and Yokota
http://www.chijihon.metro.tokyo.jp/kiti/english/airportmap.jpg

Govt to ask U.S. to return Yokota air control rights



Daily Yomiuri (Jan.31 2005)

In the next Japan-U.S. meeting on the realignment of U.S. armed forces in Japan, the government will ask the United States to return air traffic control rights over Yokota Air Base and neighboring areas, government sources said Sunday.

The government plans to present a proposal at the deputy foreign and defense ministerial-level meeting, to be held as early as mid-February, and to request a department-chief level task force, which will be established to coordinate the transfer of the air traffic control rights, the sources said.

In the event the rights to air traffic control over Yokota, known as Yokota radar approach control (Yokota RAPCON), are transferred, restrictions on civilian airplanes flying over the western portion of the metropolitan area will be significantly eased.

The U.S. government has floated the idea of integrating the 5th Air Force's command center at Yokota and the 13th Air Force's command center in Guam.

The Japanese and U.S. governments are also looking into possible joint military use of the Yokota base, which covers Fussa and other northwestern Tokyo cities and towns, by transferring the Air Self-Defense Force's Air Defense Command in Fuchu, Tokyo, and other functions to Yokota, as well as joint military-civilian use, allowing civilian jetliners to land at Yokota.

The return of the Yokota RAPCON, which is linked to such plans, could improve the flight efficiency of civilian planes.

As civilian airplanes flying over the area covered by the Yokota RAPCON must have permission from the U.S air force and must follow U.S. instructions, flight routes were established that avoid the area.

If the Yokota RAPCON is returned to Japan, efficient flight routes passing over Yokota could be established, and a realignment of aerial zones might also be possible, the sources said.

In December, the two governments agreed on the return of the Kadena RAPCON, which covers nearly the entire Okinawa Prefecture, by the end of fiscal 2007.

As a result, there is increased pressure from members of the government to seek the handover of the Yokota RAPCON.

But some government officials said given the heavy air traffic over Yokota, there was no room for civilian airplanes, and unless priority was guaranteed for military use in times of emergency, the return would be difficult.

Thus it remains to be seen whether air traffic control rights over Yokota or joint use of the air base will ever be realized.

Well Said!!!

Reaaly, the mind boggles how the US has control of Tokyo airspace. I find this totally outrageous. Can you imagine the Japanese SDF controlling the airspace over New York???!!!