Yokota hosts 2013 MACA Conference

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan – Haru Kato, Mid-Air Collision Avoidance Fly-in Conference volunteer, checks in local pilots prior to briefings at Yokota Air Base, Japan, April 21, 2013. The MACA conference is designed to give local pilots a better understanding of Yokota’s flight and approach control operations and leads to a safer flying environment across the Kanto Plain. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer/Released)

Yokota hosts 2013 MACA Conference

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan – Local Japanese pilots attend the Mid-Air Collision Avoidance Fly-in Conference at Yokota Air Base, Japan, April 21, 2013. The MACA conference is designed to give local pilots a better understanding of Yokota’s flight and approach control operations and leads to a safer flying environment across the Kanto Plain. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer/Released)

Yokota hosts 2013 MACA Conference

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan – Col. David Gould, 374 Operations Group commander, gives opening remarks at the Mid-Air Collision Avoidance Fly-in Conference at Yokota Air Base, Japan, April 21, 2013. The conference brought more than 130 Japanese pilots who received briefings from the 36th Airlift Squadron, 459th Airlift Squadron, 374th Operations Support Squadron and the flight training center staff. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer/Released)

Yokota hosts 2013 MACA Conference

Published April 21, 2013
By Staff Sgt. Chad Strohmeyer
374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- The 374th Airlift Wing Safety Office, teaming with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association-Japan (AOPA-J) hosted more than 130 private Japanese pilots during the Mid-Air Collision Avoidance (MACA) Conference, April 21, to increase awareness and promote safety in the skies over Yokota Air Base, Tokyo and the surrounding communities.

The conference brought together a variety of operators who share the Kanto Plain airspace and the 374th Airlift Wing air traffic controllers to discuss airspace boundaries, routes and daily operations.

"The importance of the MACA conference is to increase familiarity amongst all pilots and controllers who operate in the shared airspace over the Kanto Plain," said Maj. Carlos Mararac, Chief of Flight Safety. "Because of this training, pilots and controllers are becoming more aware of the local flying area and hopefully we can keep this trend going in the foreseeable future."

The conference had two goals. Increase awareness and strengthen the strong bond we already share with our host neighbors in the Kanto Plain.

"Since the advent of the first Yokota-led MACA conference in 2010, our Hazardous Air Traffic Reports (HATRS) have steadily decreased from a record-high six HATRs in 2010 to four in 2011, to one last year. Currently, there have been no HATRs filed for 2013," said Mararac.

The day was broken up into two three-hour sessions, separated by a luncheon. The participants attended briefings given by members of the Yokota Flight Training Center, the 36th Airlift Squadron, the 459th Airlift Squadron and the 374th Operations Support Squadron during the first session. Later, they toured aircraft static displays, the control tower, and Radar Approach Control, from which all Yokota airspace is controlled.

"I feel very fortunate to have attended this conference," said Taichi Ishida, local pilot. "English is not my first language, but this conference has given me a better understanding of how to communicate with the controllers."

By talking to the radar control personnel, participants were able to see and ask questions about what and how many operations the controllers handle, and get specific answers about how best to communicate and operate in some of the busier portions of the airspace.

Even though the coordination of such a large event can get extremely hectic, Mararac sees the big picture.

"The potential lives and resources we can save through the conference are extremely important," said Mararac. "I am deeply honored to have been a part of it."