2 flights takes off simultaneously at Narita

Narita international airport near Tokyo has become the first Japanese airport to use its 2 runways for simultaneous takeoffs.

Starting from Thursday, 2 flights can leave at the same time from the airport's 2 parallel runways.

In the past, a flight could take off from one runway while another plane could land on the other runway. The transport ministry previously banned simultaneous takeoffs due to safety and noise concerns.

But faced with international competition, the ministry relaxed the regulations. Local communities around Narita airport, despite their previous opposition, approved such a change.

The ministry assigned new officers to the control tower to ensure that 2 planes keep a safe distance from each other during takeoffs.

Now that a maximum of 46 flights per hour can leave from Narita, instead of the previous 32, the airport operator hopes the change will strengthen its international competitiveness.

Narita airport manager Tsuyoshi Otake said the company will launch PR projects and call on airlines to increase their flights or start new flights out of Narita.

Thursday, October 20, 2011 12:15 +0900 (JST)