Okinawa: US violated Osprey rules over 300 times

[unhappycamper]

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20121226_01.html

Okinawa: US violated Osprey rules over 300 times

Okinawa Prefecture in southern Japan says the US military violated the rules for its Osprey aircraft over 300 times in the first 2 months of their deployment at a local base.

Okinawa officials released the results of their visual inspections on whether the military was following the operational rules agreed upon with Japan.

~snip~

The officials say the violations include 315 flights over schools, hospitals and densely populated areas.

On 74 occasions, the aircraft was flying in helicopter mode, which is said to be less stable than plane mode. The operational rules limit the use of the helicopter mode outside US bases and military precincts as much as possible.



unhappycamper comment: To read more on the Osprey in Japan, google: osprey okinawa