The Editor's Letter

Georgina Hunter-Jones

Japanese helicopter flying features heavily in this issue. Thanks to a heavy earthquake in Kobe in 1995 the Japanese finally started having an EMS system, known as Doctor Helicopter, in 2001. Although started later than many countries, the Japanese system is very efficient and is proving to be very effective. At the moment there are only ten hospitals where the EMS system is active, but many other prefectures are interested in the rescue machine and are looking for the money to pay for it.

It seems that helicopter flying generally is on the increase in Japan with Shizuka Saito, the owner of Alpha Aviation, reporting a big increase in the number of students learning to fly in Japan, rather than going overseas, something not the case as little as ten years ago.

For those who cannot afford the full sized version, the inventor and engineer Gennai Yanagisawa has created a small 'backpack' helicopter for a single person to fly. At the moment this can only sell in Japan and the USA but it could be that given its potential it may become a best seller once they allow it to be sold outside its current market.

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