JBAA Status Report　GB 49^th

JBAA 2009.5.30

In 2008, 54 Japan registered business aviation airplanes landed 6223 times at airports in Japan, which was 28% less than 8683 times of 2007. Meanwhile, 820 foreign registered business aviation airplanes landed 2046 times in Japan, which dropped 10% compared with 2284 times of 2007. The decrease of number is considered to be affected by the recent worldwide strict economic situation.

As mentioned last year, Japan still has some of the world’s most restrictive regulations for business aviation and also airports in Tokyo Metropolitan area are very restricted for business aviation. These are the major reasons business aviation in Japan still remains at low-level in spite of Japan’s strong economy.

Because the Japanese regulations for business aviation have not been established yet, business aviation must presently follow the regulations for big commercial airlines. This causes high operation and maintenance costs. Consequently, many Japanese business jet owners tend to have their aircrafts US registered. JBAA has urged JCAB to develop appropriate regulations specified to the business aviation.

Another big issue is the shortage of landing slots and poor facilities for business aircrafts in Tokyo Metropolitan area. JBAA conducted a series of surveys last year and submitted a report to JCAB to improve the present inferior situation. This report requested JCAB to increase slots for business aviation and improve facilities and services in Haneda and Narita airports. It also requested to open the Military Airports such as Yokota, Kisarazu, Atsugi ,Shimofusa etc. in Tokyo Metropolitan area for business aviation.

Although the last year’s landing record was not satisfactory, the situation surrounding business aviation in Japan has been changing significantly. Last May, JCAB report highlighted the importance of business jets in Japan’s aviation future and laid out a road map for a new business aviation policy, calling for improvements in facilitation, regulatory framework, facilities and airfields. Additional JCAB surveys, focused on regulatory framework and airfields, are being carried out this year.

The local governments with airports are also becoming very positive about business aviation. Kansai (Osaka&Kobe) and Chubu(Nagoya) region airports recently have sufficient slots for business aviation and began to attract business aircrafts. They are trying to provide business aircraft operators with the same level services as in the United States and European countries.

This is a good sign for the business aviation industry’s future in Japan.