Business aviation flying within Japan looks set to become less cumbersome for foreign operators following a decision by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau to ease operational restrictions from the end of the month.
Operators carrying international passengers to Japan will be able to make multiple stops within the country with the same travellers on board. Foreign operators will not be able to pick up new passengers and fly point-to-point within Japan, due to the country’s cabotage rules.
JCAB's Yosuke Yamagishi (left) and Tairiku Hiraishi. Image credit: Billypix
Simultaneously the JCAB has introduced a new regulation for Japanese business aircraft charter operators based on US Federal Aviation Regulation Part 135. Operators of aircraft with fewer than 30 seats and a maximum payload of 3,400kg will no longer have to adhere to the more restrictive Part 121 regulations, says national trade body, the Japan Business Aviation Association.
These approvals are a major step forward for Japan, whose restrictive aviation policies have resulted in it having only 58 business aircraft on its register and a paltry three domestic charter operators.
“The fleet consists mainly of turboprops and light business jets,” says Makoto Tsunogae, director and deputy secretary general with the JBAA. “The biggest aircraft is a midsize Citation Sovereign,” he adds. The JBAA along with the help of fellow international trade associations and the manufacturing community have sought for many years to persuade the JCAB to remove the bureaucratic and restrictive regulations governing business aviation. “We are making progress,” Tsunogae adds. “By removing these operational restrictions, we hope to attract more foreign companies and operators to Japan.”
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Source: Flight Daily News