Japanese sky sports report for CIMP 2004

Kaz Shimada, M.D./Japanese Delegate

June 2004

1          Events that took place

1.1         FAI WORLD GRAND PRIX 2003 was cancelled due to the accident during the first elimination day ‘time challenge’ session on 31 October 2003, in which a Russian contestant Alexsandre Krotov/SU-26 RA2821K sustained an injury that was treated in an ICU.  He returned home for further treatment in December.  The event was regularly held at the Honda Motegi Circuit.  It is still to see how the sponsor react to this next season.  No information on anti-doping procedure was available (it is likely there was none).

1.2         Japanese pilot ranked third at the 2003 Hot Air Balloon World Honda Grand Prix. No info on anti-doping procedure available.

1.3         Two were killed in a tandem-jump accident.

1.4         One spectator was killed in a helicopter model competition.  The model drifted and dropped onto the victim.  An injury was reported in 1991.

2          Events to come

2.1         November 2006, the 17th world championship for hot air balloon will take place at Motegi, Japan.  It was held at Saga, Japan in 1989 and 1997.

2.2         Model helicopter Asia-Pacific competition in 2006 may be held in Japan.

2.3         Another considered for 2006 in Japan is a hangglider world championship.

2.4         Details of test methods to use for ICAO physical are to be revised in 2005-2006.

3          In discussion

3.1         Budget/resource for anti-doping control is sought after by Japanese NAC.  Although Japanese Government paid for the WADA Tokyo Office, it does not help in test fees.

3.2         Self-reporting of accidents/incidents of those modalities of flight not classified as aircraft are being discussed.  In Japan, gliders and microlights are treated as aircraft but not the balloons.  Glider pilots need the ICAO Class 2 physical.  Because there is no exemption of liability for the sake of air operation safety, self-reporting information has potential conflict of legal interest.

4          Statistics for 2003