Osprey Aircraft Training:The Inescapable Increaseof Noise Pollution and Danger

Published in Ryukyu Newspaper
(Japan) on 21 June 2011
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Ryan Whiting. Edited by Patricia Simoni.
It has been revealed that Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) by the U.S. Marine Corp at the Ieshima support airbase for the MV22 Osprey Aircraft has begun. The MV22 Osprey Aircraft is scheduled to be deployed to the Futenma Airbase in the second half of 2012.

In addition to the deployment of this dangerous aircraft, which has had numerous crashes, it has been announced that there will be repeated takeoffs and landings on Ieshima island, which resembles an aircraft carrier.

We cannot allow the deployment of the Osprey to the already dangerous Futenma Airbase. Furthermore, there will be noise pollution and danger, resulting from constant training and maintenance. It is assumed that the plane will be used on aircraft carriers in battle situations. Inevitably, there will be an ever greater backlash from the citizens of Okinawa.

It has just been revealed that the U.S. Marine Corp on Okinawa has been executing FCLP maneuvers at both the base at Futenma and at Ieshima, with the helicopter unit stationed at Futenma Airbase. It has just been substantiated that FCLP maneuvers will be expected from the Osprey Aircraft, once they are deployed to Okinawa.

The FCLP maneuvers at Ieshima will include the Osprey flying all over the northern part of Okinawa, itself. The Osprey is the successor to the CH46 transport helicopter.

Based on the flying characteristics of the Osprey, the FCLP will include vertical landings and takeoffs, along with fixed-wing flying. Fears about safety are growing because of the addition of helicopter-like vertical takeoffs and landings from a level flying position.

Before the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee on June 21, it was revealed that the U.S. has been preparing military bases for Osprey use, in rapid succession.

They may be planning a strategic move for a breakthrough, because they face strong opposition from Okinawans, including 38 out of 41 mayors in opposition.

Once again, for emphasis: Okinawa isn’t a U.S. military colony. We will absolutely reject an increase in military responsibility. FCLP, in its original form, consisted of an aircraft from an aircraft carrier docked at its home port of Yokosuka base, repeatedly practicing takeoffs and landings in the night from Atsugi base in Kanegawa prefecture. Fighter jets like the F/A-18 continually practice touch-and-go maneuvers that make tremendous explosive sounds. There has been fierce local opposition, especially because of the night-landing practice (NLP). On the island of Iwo Jima, the U.S. and Japan agreed to the transfer of FCLP activities to the Iwakuni base, with the U.S. Armed Forces reorganization of 2006. However, opposition in Iwakuni has not gone away.

The U.S. Marine Corp has hinted that night FCLP maneuvers will be executed on Ieshima. Training, which has continued to create discord with citizens, even on the mainland, will be expanded to include helicopters on Futenma. With the expectation that the Japanese government will approve of the expansion, the U.S. military immediately began training, after the deployment of the Osprey. Are Okinawans too soft-hearted?


オスプレイ訓練 危険性と騒音拡大不可避2011年6月21日

 米海兵隊は、2012年後半に普天間飛行場に配備を計画するMV22オスプレイが、伊江島補助飛行場で陸上空母離着陸訓練(FCLP)を実施すると明らかにした。
 墜落事故を繰り返してきた危険機種を配備した上、空母に見立てた伊江島で離着陸を繰り返すと宣言したことになる。
 危険な普天間飛行場にオスプレイを配備すること自体到底認められないが、さらに空母を使う実戦を想定した練度維持訓練が恒常化し、騒音被害と危険性の拡大を伴う。県民の一層の反発は避けられない。
 在沖海兵隊は、普天間基地所属のヘリコプターがFCLPを伊江島やキャンプ・ハンセン、シュワブの両基地で実施していると明らかにしたばかりだ。沖縄配備後のオスプレイによるFCLP実施が予想されたが、早速裏付けられた。
 伊江島でのFCLPは沖縄本島中北部の広い地域で、CH46輸送ヘリの後継機であるオスプレイが飛び交うことを意味する。
 オスプレイの飛行特性からすると、FCLPは垂直離着陸するヘリと固定翼機の両形態で実施されるだろう。ヘリ形態の離着陸に水平飛行からの離着陸が加わるだけに安全面でも懸念が増す。
 21日の日米安全保障協議委員会(2プラス2)を前に、米側は矢継ぎ早にオスプレイ関連の基地運用の実態を明らかにした。
 41人中、38首長が反対するなど、沖縄社会の強い反対を押し切り、中央突破を図る布石なのだろう。
 あらためて指摘するが、沖縄は米国の軍事植民地ではない。これ以上の基地負担を強いることは断じて認められない。
 FCLPの原形は、神奈川県の厚木基地で、事実上の母港である横須賀基地に寄港した空母の艦載機が夜間に繰り返す離着陸訓練にある。FA18戦闘攻撃機などがタッチ・アンド・ゴーを繰り返す際の爆音はすさまじい。特に夜間離着陸訓練(NLP)は住民の猛反発を生み、日米は1989年に硫黄島(東京都)、2006年の米軍再編で岩国基地(山口県)への移転で合意したが、岩国では反発が消えない。
 海兵隊は、伊江島での夜間のFCLP実施を示唆した。本土でも住民とあつれきを生み続けた訓練を普天間ヘリにも拡大し、オスプレイ配備後も臆せず実施するという米軍と容認する日本政府に期待する県民がお人よしなのか。
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