Chitose Air Base 千歳基地 Chitose Kichi
IATA: none – ICAO: RJCJ
Summary
Airport type		Military
Operator		Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Location		Chitose, Hokkaidō, Japan
Elevation AMSL		89 ft / 27 m
Coordinates		42°47′40″N 141°39′59″E / 42.79444°N 141.66639°E / 42.79444; 141.66639 (Chitose Air Base)Coordinates: 42°47′40″N 141°39′59″E / 42.79444°N 141.66639°E / 42.79444; 141.66639 (Chitose Air Base)
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	m	ft
18L/36R	3,000	9,843	Concrete
18R/36L	2,700	8,858	Asphalt concrete
Source: Japanese AIP at AIS Japan

Boeing 747-400 of the Special Air Transport Corps at Chitose Air Base
Click to enlarge

Chitose Air Base

Chitose Air Base
Click to enlarge

Chitose Air Base (千歳基地, Chitose Kichi) (ICAO: RJCJ), is a Japan Air Self-Defense Force base located in Chitose, Hokkaidō, adjacent to New Chitose Airport. It is the JASDF's primary base in northern Japan and tasked with monitoring Japan's maritime borders with Russia. It was also Hokkaidō's primary civilian airport until the opening of New Chitose Airport in 1988. Together, these two jointly operated and connected airports create one of the largest airports in Japan.

History

Chitose's first flight came in 1926, when the Otaru Shimbun newspaper sponsored the "Hokkai One" (Hokkai-ichigō) flight, originating at a 10-hectare air field donated by the villagers of Chitose. In 1939, the Imperial Japanese Navy took over the field.

After Japan's surrender in 1945, ending World War II, the United States Armed Forces took over the base. During the Allied occupation, in 1951, Chitose received its first scheduled civilian flights to Tokyo, operated by Japan Airlines. The airfield was returned to the Japanese government in 1959.

Until 1988, Chitose Airport was the main airport serving the Sapporo metropolitan area. A new terminal building opened in 1963 and immigration facilities were constructed in 1969. In 1981, Chitose received its first scheduled international flights to Honolulu. However, following the opening of New Chitose Airport, all civilian passenger service moved there.

Units based at Chitose

Northern Air Defense Force

• 2nd Air Wing
  • 201st Tactical Flighter Squadron (F-15 Eagle)
  • 203rd Tactical Flighter Squadron (F-15 Eagle)
• 3rd Air Defence Missile Group (Patriot missiles)
  • 9th Fire Unit
  • 10th Fire Unit
• 8th Mobile Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Air Support Command

• Special Air Transport Corps (Boeing 747s used by Japanese government)
• Chitose Air Rescue Wing (UH-60J,U-125A)

Accidents and incidents

• July 30, 1971: All Nippon Airways Flight 58, while on a route from Chitose to Tokyo Haneda, collided with a fighter plane. All of the people on board died.

Chitose Air Base in Fiction

In the anime OAV 801 T.T.S. Airbats, the series takes place on the Chitose Air Base.

The content above was published at Airports-Worldwide.com in 2010.
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