777 CLOSEST FOR NEXT GOV’T AIRCRAFT SELECTION

   

Compiled From Yomiuri Shimbun reporting on July 19, 2013

The government of Japan is planning to retire two Boeing 747-400 government’s own aircraft in fiscal 2018 and replace them by two new aircraft in the following year.

The newspaper has learned from pleural government sources in July 18 that it would request a part of budget to acquire in advance for fiscal 2014, assuming a choice of Boeing 777 having a similar transportation capacity with 747 but superior in fuel efficiency.

Current pair of Govt aircraft was introduced in 1991 and are being operated by Japan Air Self Defense Force while its maintenance, repair and overhaul as well as crew training are entrusted to Japan Airlines. The aircraft has been used in state visits by the Imperial family as well as Prime Ministers; they are also deployed to emergency flights such as transportation of rescued expatriates and bodies of the victims in Algerian assault incident in last January.

Internal study of the next aircraft within the government was prompted by JAL’s retirement of all its 747 fleet  by 2010 as JAL looked 747s were inferior in fuel consumption rate.

The decision making has been postponed as new aircraft acquisition may provoke negative reactions from taxpayers as the government is readying to raise tax rate and ask them to burden higher. However, as JAL’s support would end in fiscal 2018 and procurement of new aircraft calls for a certain lead time, the government finally decided to place order within the next fiscal year.

Estimated cost of the acquisition is JPY 100 billion (USD 1 billion) for two examples including special conversion works.

Notes

1. All of ANA’s 747 fleet will be retired by March 2014, leaving NCA cargo airline the only operator of 747 in Japan.

2. Once 787 was rumored to be a candidate, so were MRJ Mitsubishi Regional Jets. However, as for the latter, its range is too short and it would rather be a sign of commitment by the government to support the indigenous airliner development.

3. Japanese aerospace industry  has been participating in 777 from development stage to current production  accounting  for 21% of the works of 777.

Training Base for MV-22 Ospreys at Osaka?

Many Obstacles Ahead to Materialize Hashimoto’s Proposal to US Marine Corps

5 June 2013

from various reports,

Following an abrupt statement by Tooru Hashimoto, controversial Mayor of Osaka, to welcome to accept U.S. Marine Corps vertical transport aircraft MV-22 Ospreys to a general aviation airport called Yao in Osaka for a part of flight training missions, Tokyo moves to study comprehensively its feasibility. Hashimoto’s plans immediately invited an opposition from the mayor of Yao City to accept military missions to its civil airport. Accordingly the central government would study the plans carefully as it has three-fold drawbacks in refuelling, hangers and flight/training environments.

Mr. Hashimoto will meet Yoshihide Suga, Chief Cabinet Secretary to make his proposal officially on June 6.

Marine Corps’ MV-22 Ospreys are stationed in Futenma Air Station where there is virtually no gap between dense housing area and local citizens claim Ospreys are symbolizing too much concentration of US military installations in small Okinawa prefecture. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima of Okinawa in last February to tell the governor that the governement wished to work hard to relocate Osprey drills to outside of Okinawa as much as possible.

Even though relocation of US bases outside Okinawa has been a poetical promise over the years, there has been no local governments to accept installations within their premises fearing troubles and protesting citizens.

Yao, a suburb of Osaka, has a commuter and helicopter airport of small scale but the airport is being surrounded by housing complex and obstructing buildings at all directions.

A Defense Ministry official said that Osprey’s refuelling, since this SVTOL aircraft uses different fuel than light aircraft or helicopters, calls for new facilities that will cost billions in Japanese yen. He also points out there is no extra space in the tiny airport to house a new hanger to accommodate Ospreys. How about Yao from a view point of its suitability as training environment? If Yao turns out to be unsuitable for training missions, the effect to reduce heavy concentration  of US military presence in Okinawa  would be limited.

Marine Corps is reportedly seeking flight training plans at more areas in homeland Japan by securing refuelling and transit points as many as possible. In the west, Marine Corps has its Iwakuni Air Station and it maybe wants to prioritize a station in eastern side.  Yao, Osaka is in western part and closer to Iwakuni.

  Yao is in Osaka Prefecture

Yao Airport (RJOY): 70ha, 09/27 1,490m x 45m, 13/31 1,200m x 30m

India to Acquire Flying Boat from Japan

Complied from reporting by Sankei Shimbun, 24 March 2013

*

US-2, Rescue Flying Boat by Shin-Maywa, Operated by Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force

　

Tokyo has started necessary procedures to export US-2, amphibious rescue flying boat operated by Maritime Self-Defence Force, to India that had expressed intention to buy the aircraft for its rescue operations as well as anti-piracy countermeasure. Its manufacturer opened a local office in India to negotiate with the Indian government. With its export, per unit produciton cost would be lowered as production increases, reluting in lower procurement cost of Japan.

US-2, when taken off special armor and IFF, cannot be classified as weapon system but its export was regarded as a ‘taboo’ as the aircraft is exclusively designed for operations by the Self-Defence Force. However, by the relaxation of the three principles regarding arms export practice by the government of Japan where even conventionally classified as weapon can be now allowed to export as long as it compiles with peace creation or international cooperation. Accordingly, the government is now allowing exporting of some of its defense systems for promotion of its home defense industry as well as lowering of defense cost.

Shin Maywa Ind., its manufacturer, is obliged to apply for civilian convertion of the aircraft and already requested to disclose technical specificaitons and data under copyright of the Defense Ministry that accepted the request.

Indian government has indicated an intention to purchase US-2 to Japan since three years ago. At joint naval exercise at Sagami bay in last June, officials of Indian navy witnessed high performance of US-2 and brought back with positive impression of the flying boat..

Indian government is planning to deploy US-2 to both rescue and anti-piracy operations. Enhanced saftey of navigation in Indian Ocean would mean a more stability of sea lane of communication (SLOC) from middle east to Japan.

According to a Japanese official, countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei are also showing interest in purchase of US-2.  When such ASEAN nations as well as India share the same aircraft with shared technical knowledge and operation maneuvers, ‘it would play a diversionary force againt China who is trying spread its force in the seas at the region,’ said the governement official.

US-2 is rescue flying boat and it is the only type that can land on rough sea water with waves as high as three meters. Operaitonal range: 4,700 Km, Cruising speed: 480 Km

New Maritime Patrol Aircraft to be Deployed at Atsugi Base in March

from various souces

Japan’s Defense Ministry announced on March 12 to local authorities around Atsugi Base of Maritime Self Defense Force (Kanagawa Pref.)  that the ministry would station new jet-powered patrol aircraft P-1 within the month of March as its development had been completed.  Amid the tension at the seas around Japan getting arising, the ministry decided the new aircraft is most suitable as a sign of more alert as P-1 is exceeding conventional patrol plance, P-3C, in terms of speed and range.

P-1 is all domestc developed aircraft to succeed P-3C; the ministry told first two examples would be deployed at the base in March, then to be incresed to a total of 12 by the end of fiscal 2016 and finally 20 for more intensified watch and patrol at the southwest sea territory and other areas.

Development  of P-1 had started since 2001 but it was delayed for about one year for cracks found in its wings and fuselage. Kawasaki Heavy Industries is mafucturing the aircraft with unit price of JPY20 billion or around $200 million.

Maritime Self Defense Force would employ the first aircraft for operational test flight at first.

Powered by four XF7-10 turbofan by IHI, P-1 is medium-class aircraft and the defense ministry would procure a total of 70 plus aircraft to replace aging 80 P-3C fleet. JMSDF justifies the smaller number of the new P-1 fleet as it could fly and reach the target area faster.

Its flight control has adopted flight by light (FBL) system consisting of fiber optics to avoid interference to on-board sensors and other electronics. Practically the very first case of use FBL, the aircraft gets lighter weight of wiring and smaller power consumption while flying.

The aircraft was developed concurrently with XC-2 medium-sized two-engine military airlift  by the same contractor, sharing 75 % of airborne systems by unit, saving JPY 25 billion.

Specifications

Crew: 2 pilots and 11 operators

Length: 124 ft

Height: 39 ft

Wingspan: 114 ft

Take-off weight: 80 t

Powerplant: F7-IHI-10 turbofan, 13,500 lb x4

Performance

Max speed:    538 kt

Cruise speed:    450 kt

Range:         4,320 nmi

Armament

Air-to-Ship missile, torpedos, anti-sub bombs for a total of over

20,000 lb

New Intelligence Satellite Launched Today

 

New Radar Information Gathering Satellite Launched by H2A #22

January 27, 2013

JAXA, Japan's space exploration authority, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries successfully launched H2A rocket #22 for the Japanese government from the Tanegashima Space Center, Kagoshima at 1:40pm today. The rocket's payload includes the fourth radar equipped information gathering satellite as well as demonstrator of new optical system. The payload was seperated from launcher as scheduled and successfully put into orbit.

The radar satellite is believed to be able to find about 1 meter object on the ground day and night and through clouds. The optical demonstrator is designed to test a new photographic system with higher resolution than the optical satellites #3 and #4 now in orbit, with ability to identify 40 centimeter object.

This new radar satellite will join the three optical reconnaissance satellites and one radar satellite already in orbit, completing the original plan to watch a specific place on the ground at least once a day, night and day.

According to the Intelligence Satellite Operations Center, a division of　the Cabinet Office, the fourth radar satellite called for a total development cost of JPY24.3 billion (about USD270 million) while the optical demonstrator satellite was developed with JPY11.8 billion (USD130 million); launching cost of H2A is JPY10.9billion (USD121 million).

Japan's information gathering satellites have been put into orbit after the ballistic missile launch by North Korea in late 1990s. The government of Japan has not released all relevant data of the satellites including their orbit paths and performance as well as collected graphic data.

H2A launcher, with today's launching, could achieve successful rate of 95.5%, surpassing an international yardstick of 95% as reliable launching system.

JAL's Boeing 787 Leaked Fuel Again

2013/1/13 21:11 KYODO                    
   
       
               

A Japan Airlines’ Boeing 787, while maintenance at Narita International Air;port,  had a failure to leak about 100 liters of its fuel. The incident took place around 1:40 pm on January 13 local time. According to JAL, the aircraft is the one that showed fuel leakage at Boston Logan International Airport on January 8 and while removing remaining fuel in the left wing, JAL saw unexpected leak from jettison fuel nozzle of the left wing.       
           
The nozzle was most probably opened itself while maintenance work was performed; there was no display of warning that was supposed to be activated when the nozzle starts to work.   
           
The fuel leak in Boston was caused by extra amount of fuel flowing to a fuel tank in the left wing as a unclosed valve that connect two fuel tanks of middle section of the fuselage and the left wing. The fuel leaked from another discharge section. Japan Airlines started its check up assuming a trouble of fuel supply system at both cases.■

KFC Menu Added to JAL Flights

Kentucky Fried Chicken to be Served in JAL Long Haul Flights

From Jiji Press, 2012/11/28

Japan Airlines announced today the new in-flight menu called Air Kentucky Fried Chicken, specially developed for air travelers jointly with Kentucky Fired Chicken, Japan Ltd. This new menu will be available on JAL flights departing Narita to 8 destinations of USA and Europe from December 1 to the end of February 2013. Passengers of premium economy and economy classes will enjoy this as snack just before arrival to the destinations.

　

JAL said this is the first time in the world for Kentucky Fried Chicken to be served in flight. Chicken wing and chicken breast meat, both smaller than KFC menu in town, will be served with bread in JAL cabin.

Air Defense Around Japan Getting Hot

Japan’s Forces Must Watch North and South : AWACS for Chinese Navy, Alert for Russian Recon Planes

from MSN SANKEI webnews 2012.9.21 01:37

                    Japan Air Self Defense Force E-767 AWACS

Operations of two frigates of Chinese Navy was found in northern sea of Senkaku Islands, Okinawa Prefecture on September 20; it was the first sight of Chinese warships at the subject sea area after the Government of Japan purchased the islands from a Japanese national.

Japan Air Self Defense Force flew AWACS E-767s to watch around the islands as a countermeasure of higher alert. On the same day, it was detected in the Sea of Japan of two aircraft including reconnaissance plane of Russia that approached to Japan’s airspace. Japan’s self-defense forces are forced to operate in two fronts.

Government officials in Tokyo confirmed detection of the two frigates at the northern sea of Senkaku Islands from 19th to 20th September and the two ships have not entered neither contiguous zone nor territorial water.

Maritime Self Defense Force has been patrolling by P-3C flight once a day around the Senkakus. This time, the government has increased its presence by mobilizing AWACS E-767s and E-2Cs as well as OP-3,converted P-3C for graphic intelligence gathering around the Senkakus for watching Chinese maritime patrol vessels and aircraft at the area.

OP-3 is capable to watch the sea area from higher altitude than P-3Cs. Although designed to detect aircraft, E-2C can find approaching large-type vessels. AWACS E-767 is more versatile by gathering and organizing data from OP-3 and E-2C for sharing information serving as a relay station.

              OP-3C of Maritime Self Defense Force

Two Russian aircraft that approached to Japan’s airspace were identified as an Il-20 electronic reconnaissance and a Su-24 tactical reconnaissance aircraft. They repeated come and go to approach to Japan’s airspace while circling on the Sea of Japan.
　
This simultaneous provocative presence around Japan by China and Russia did take place immediately after the 3/11 earthquake-tsunami of 2011 that jolted eastern part of Japan. While Japan-US forces were tied up with relief operations at that time, China intentionally neared its aircraft belonging to national maritime bureau to a destroyer of Japan; Russia flew its Il-20 so close to Japanese territory.

ANA Calls for ‘Fair and Level Market’ as Concerned over JAL’s Rapid Business Recovery

      Sankei Shimbun, May 17, 2012
   
Shin-ichiro Ito, President of All Nippon Airways (ANA) told at a press conference on May 17  that he paid respect to JAL’s efforts to their corporate rehabilitation while raising a concern that ‘if there is a fair and level market for us.’ Japan Airlienes had announced a robust and higher than expected corporate performance for previous year prior to this press conference.

What Ito referred was that ANA sees JAL’s strengthening was possible as it receives a tail-wind legal supports following JAL's filing of bankruptcy, thus distorting ‘competitive market environment.’
。
JAL’s net profit for a year ending March 2012 was JPY186.6 billion (ca US$23 billion), a record high iin its history while ANA could record JPY28 billion only.

JAL’s better performance can be attributed to special financial benefits as the company could carry over huge amount of deficit to following years thus lowering the payment of corporate tax by balancing out  as well as lowered amount of depreciation costs as the company is under application of corporate bankruptcy law.

Ito stated in the press conference that ANA recognizes JAL’s rehabilitation processes are legitimate but ANA cannot achieve a comparable level of net profit. However he bitterly commented that fair competition could benefit consumers after all.

Japan’s State Official 747s to Retire, Plan to Replace by 787

From Yomiuri Shimbun, March 16, 2012

Government of Japan has started a study to retire a couple of Boeing 747-400s by fiscal 2018 (ending March 31, 2019). These jumbo jets were procured in 1991 as government official aircraft of Japan.

Major airlines in Japan already retired a big fleet of 747s and maintenance of the government aircraft is getting difficult these days. A plan to introduce the latest medium-size jetliner Boeing 787 is seemingly most probable.

787 is being supported as it can get sustainable maintenance in Japan while the aircraft can fly as long as 15,000Km range. Another charming point of 787 is that about 35% of its parts and components are made in Japan as considered as semi-domestic product. Expected price of official 787 would be JPY20 billion and two aircraft would be procured.

Current fleet of official 747s are stationed in Chitose Air Base and operated by special squadron of Japanese Air Self-Defense Force.　Crew and maintenance personnel were trained by Japan Airlines. However, JAL as well as ANA, once big operators of 747s, have already retired the fleet. Now only NCA, a freight operator, flies 747 and the company is also a launch customer of 747-8F.

In parallel to long-haul government aircraft, there is a call for introducing smaller aircraft for easy access and handling especially to purchase MRJ by Mitsubishi Aircraft to boost the sales of the Japan-made passenger aircraft.

Vietnam Looks Forward to Purchase Mitsubishi MRJ: Keidanren Chairman meets Vietnamese President

From Fuji Sankei Business Eye, March 7 2012

A mission from Keidanren, Japan’s to top business association, met with president of Vietnam, Mr. Truong Tan San, in Hanoi on March 6. Hiromosa Yonekura, chairman of Keidanren  and chairman of Sumitomo Chemicals, requested  the president to adopt Japanese technologies to build domestic infrastructures in Vietnam.

President San remarked on Japan’s first regional jet passenger aircraft, MRJ, under development by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Aircraft that he would ‘let Vietnam Airlines to reply to your request,’  that was quite unusual statement from a head of a state.

At the meeting, Hideaki Oomiya, vice chairman of Keidanren and president of Mitsubishi Heavy industries  told the Vietnamese president that his company was constructing a parts factory for aircraft in Vietnam in order to develop human resources to under take aircraft maintenance.

On previous day,  the mission got a commitment  from Vu Huy Hoang, the Vietnamese minister of industry and commerce that the minister had already instructed to relevant organizations to step forward to consider intoduction of MRJ. The regional jet, with collaborated sales pitch of public-private sectors, is now likely to be purchased by Vietnam.

JAL’s Performance shows Better-than-Expected Operating Profit of $1.8 Billion

from Mainichi Shimbun, 8 November 2011

Japan Airlines publicly announced its expected result of consolidated performance of a year ending in March. The sales amount showed a sluggish growth due to the effect of the East Japan Earthquakes in last March.  However, following a drastic business restructuring since January 2010 when the airline went bankruptcy, its operating income is expected to reach JPY140 billion which is twice the size of the target of its rehabilitation plans. This better performance is to pave way to re-listing of the stocks of the company expected sometime around September 2012.

The 3-11 disasters brought with a large drop of passengers in April-May period, resulting as its sales amount of JPY1.15 trillion, smaller than the target by the rehabilitation plans.

In terms of business size, ANA still outnumbers JAL by annual sales. However, JAL will earn more than two times of ANA in operating profit.

On the same day, JAL announced its mid-term performance ending September 2011 as JPY599.8 billion of sales and JPY106 billion of operating profit.