Regarding the story "Jebi highlights vulnerability of Kansai airport" in the Sept. 7 edition, for instances of negligence and incompetence resulting in adverse consequences to the traveling public and public finances, it's necessary to apply rigourous investigative journalism.
This would include finding answers to the following questions:
1) Planning. Why don't the authorities enforce an anchoring and mooring exclusion zone, say 6 km from the perimeter of all airport facilities?
2) Operational management. Why did the authorities allow a vessel to remain in a position hazardous to the airport facilities in the 24-hour period before the arrival of the typhoon?
3) Design planning. Why were inadequate resources invested to provide defenses high enough to counteract a predictable threat?
4) Operational vigilance. Why didn't the observed continuous sinking of the airport result in adequate countermeasures?
5) Amukudari. Can the public be sure that the main criteria for ensuring the safety of passengers and security of the facility was technically based?
I have used Kansai International Airport several times a year since 1994; next due in November.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.