FOCUS: Gov't mulls aviation deregulation amid mixed views

Aug. 21, 2012
The transport ministry is reviewing 100 aviation safety regulations with a view to making it easier for low-cost carriers to enter the Japanese market and enhancing the competitiveness of the nation's airline industry.

The transport ministry is reviewing 100 aviation safety regulations with a view to making it easier for low-cost carriers to enter the Japanese market and enhancing the competitiveness of the nation's airline industry.

The work by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has raised hopes among airlines that the expected regulatory change will bring down costs and improve convenience for passengers, but aviation workers are concerned that the planned deregulation might jeopardize flight safety.

Already, the ministry has decided on conditional lifting of the ban on aircraft refueling during passengers' embarkation and disembarkation, a rule put in place to protect passengers from a possible fire incident. It also plans to let pilots and co-pilots aged 60 and older to take charge of commercial flights due to a pilot shortage.

The ministry is also considering easing qualification requirements for aircraft mechanics and co-pilots.

The ministry estimates that annual aviation costs could be slashed by around 3 billion yen if all of the 100 rule changes now under consideration are implemented.

"Advances in technology have made many of the existing regulations obsolete but we won't deregulate to an extent that our rules would fall below international standards," says an official with the ministry's Civil Aviation Bureau.

In regard to the planned deregulation on the plane refueling rule, an official with Peach Aviation Ltd., a budget airline that went into business in March this year and sought the regulatory change, said, "The planned deregulation could shorten the time to park aircraft by at least 15 minutes although we intend to take advantage of the rule change only when a flight is delayed."

The Peach official said, however, "It would be difficult to have a team of pilot and co-pilot in their sixties fly a plane" in reality because the rules on pilots' health management are strict.

Meanwhile, labor organizations -- the Japan Federation of Aviation Worker's Union and Air Line Pilots' Association of Japan -- called on the transport ministry in June not to implement 12 planned deregulatory measures including the refueling with passengers aboard and easing of qualification criteria for aircraft mechanics.

"The ministry should not deregulate too hastily," says Akira Nakagawa, deputy chief of the Federation of Aviation Worker's Union. "Fewer experienced mechanics would be at hand while planes are parked" as a result of the deregulation, Nakagawa said.

Former Japan Airlines executive Shinobu Kobayashi said, "Necessary rules should remain in place or be made even more stringent because safety will continue to be of paramount importance whether or not more discount airlines enter the business."

"It's necessary to nurture the culture of putting a premium on safety in the corporate world and society at large while business competition is being promoted," Kobayashi added.

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