News Tokushima assembly urges end to low-flying US military aircraft

A recent accident involving a low-flying U.S. military aircraft has reignited concerns about the "Orange Route," a designated training airspace that traverses the mountainous regions of Wakayama, Tokushima, Kochi, and Ehime prefectures.

In November 2024, a resident in Mugi, Tokushima Prefecture, was injured when startled by the noise of a low-flying aircraft believed to be from the U.S. military. This incident prompted the Mugi Municipal Assembly to unanimously pass a resolution on 13 December, demanding an immediate halt to low-altitude flight training by U.S. military aircraft.

Japan's Civil Aeronautics Act requires aircraft to maintain minimum altitudes of 300 meters over urban areas and 150 meters in other areas, except during takeoff and landing. However, the resolution noted that "low-altitude flights by U.S. military aircraft that disregard Japan's aviation laws have been frequently observed." This marks the fourth time Mugi's assembly has passed such a resolution, following similar actions in 2010, 2012 and 2019. The Orange Route has a history of controversy. In October 1994, a U.S. military aircraft crashed during low-altitude training in northern Kochi Prefecture, killing two crew members. Despite this, U.S. flights have continued in the area, raising long-standing concerns among residents.

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Prefectural governments in Tokushima, Kochi and Ehime have urged municipalities and residents to report details of the low-altitude flights, including the date, time, location and number of aircraft observed. Data from noise measurement devices installed along the route has been used to petition Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense to demand that the U.S. military adhere to the 1999 agreement.

The Orange Route is one of several flight training paths established by the U.S. military in Japan. It spans mountainous areas across Ehime, Kochi and Tokushima prefectures in Shikoku and extends into Wakayama Prefecture. The route was designated when MV-22 Osprey aircraft were deployed to U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture. According to a 2012 document translated and published by Japan's Ministry of Defense, there are at least six such routes in Japan. These include the "Green Route" and "Pink Route" in northeastern Japan's Tohoku region, the "Blue Route" across the Tohoku and Chubu regions, and the "Yellow Route" in the Kyushu region. Like the Orange Route, these paths traverse mountainous areas.

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thomas said:

A recent accident involving a low-flying U.S. military aircraft has reignited concerns about the "Orange Route,"

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What recent accident? The incident you mentioned was 30 years ago. Sounds like the recent concerns are mainly due to greater publicity via social media.

I will admit it can scare the daylights out of you. My old camp was a low level training area just out in front. They would dive from high up where you didn't hear them , and zoom in just 25 feet off the ground and 50 feet in front of the camp. When you're used to the peace & quiet of the woods , it is a heck of a shock.

mdchachi said:

What recent accident? The incident you mentioned was 30 years ago.

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This one:

mdchachi said:

In November 2024, a resident in Mugi, Tokushima Prefecture, was injured when startled by the noise of a low-flying aircraft believed to be from the U.S. military.

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Related News Search:

Surge in Low-Flying Military Aircraft and Noise Complaints in Three Shikoku Prefectures (2021/07/16)
In Ehime, Kochi, and Tokushima, the three prefectures of Shikoku, low-flying aircraft believed to be U.S. military planes and noise complaints have seen a sharp increase. The number of sightings reported by residents in the last fiscal year reached an all-time high in all three prefectures. Several videos, captured by concerned residents on their smartphones, have also been preserved.

Source: Asahi Shimbun Digital

Although this is an article from a left-leaning newspaper, the children in the video appear to be enjoying themselves, suggesting biased reporting. Additionally, there are no negative comments in the comment section.

Here is another article from the Shikoku branch of the Japanese Communist Party titled "Increase in Low-Flying Aircraft Over Shikoku in 2020," which contains similar content.