YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Yokota’s air traffic system is being scrutinized during a weeklong inspection that ends Monday, according to base officials.
A 17-member team from Pacific Air Forces — based in Hawaii — and the Air Force Flight Standards Agency, from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., started inspecting operations Oct. 11.
Team members visited Yokota’s Operations Support Squadron, Communications Squadron, Civil Engineer Squadron and Airlift Wing Safety Office — all part of the 374th Airlift Wing — during the Air Traffic System Evaluation Program inspection, held at all Air Force bases every two years. The 374th Operations Support Squadron’s Combat Weather Team and 20th Operational Weather Squadron also are to be inspected.
The team uses a 916-item checklist during the inspection, stated Maj. Sean B. Copeland, 374th Operation Support Squadron, in a written reply to Stars and Stripes. Inspectors also look for four special-interest items, three PACAF and one Air Force. By deadline Friday, base officials were unable to specify what the special-interest items are.
Routine checklist items include the base flightline driving program, the Bird Aircraft Strikes Hazard program and the Air Traffic Control tower’s aircraft separation standards, according to a base news report.
Copeland stated team members were meeting with squadron personnel late Friday afternoon to discuss the inspection; the team is to give the 374th Airlift Wing leaders an exit briefing Tuesday. According to Copeland, the official report should be provided to Yokota officials in early November.
“Our business does not allow for even one percent of failure because of the nature of our jobs,” Copeland was quoted as saying in the news release. “If something goes wrong, there are countless lives, and millions of dollars of equipment and property at stake.”
Copeland wrote that the inspection results will be used to “improve our level of service to the Wing and civilian users as well as fine-tune programs designed to ensure compliance with U.S. Air Force, Federal Aviation Association, Pacific Air Forces and local directives.”
