The transport ministry and Japanese airlines are finding it difficult to keep pace with the United States in launching immediate measures against possible terrorist attacks, ministry officials said Sunday.
The U.S. as well as at least two other countries -- Australia and Germany -- have begun placing air marshals aboard planes since terrorists flew hijacked planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Sept. 11, said the officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
In addition, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has had the door leading to the cockpit strengthened.
The ministry and Japanese carriers have collected information on security-boosting measures since the attacks, but have found it difficult to initiate similar measures due to legal differences between Japan and the U.S., the officials said.
Japanese carriers in the past have never placed security or police officers aboard planes in anticipation of a possible hijacking.
"Each country has different customs regarding carrying guns. There is also the question of who bears the highest authority in a plane. The Civil Aeronautics Law gives the captain pilot such power, but security officers are also given power," a ministry official said. U.S. carriers have begun work to strengthen cockpit doors by installing reinforcement devices.
In Japan, however, airlines are not allowed to remodel their planes independent of transport ministry supervision. In addition, they may also be required to ask aircraft manufacturers to design such reinforcement work, the officials said.
A ministry official also pointed out that aircraft manufacturers around the world have recently designed planes to allow the cockpit door to easily open in the event of an accident, when air pressure can sharply drop.
"I believe each country needs to discuss this issue before drawing up measures to counter hijacking," the official said.