{"id":31267,"date":"2026-08-29T11:20:24","date_gmt":"2026-08-29T15:20:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/?p=31267"},"modified":"2026-09-02T06:21:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T10:21:34","slug":"haneda-says-three-strikes-and-youre-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/haneda-says-three-strikes-and-youre-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Haneda Says: Three Strikes and You\u2019re Out"},"content":{"rendered":"

Japan\u2019s CAA (JCAB) is clamping down on pilot deviations, and is rolling out a three-strike system<\/strong> for captains at Tokyo\u2019s RJTT\/Haneda.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It works like this: a pilot who accumulates three qualifying deviations from ATC instructions will be come a \u2018restricted\u2019 captain. Find yourself on that list, and you will lose<\/strong> the ability to serve as PIC there.<\/p>\n

Universal confirms<\/a> these rules apply to international BizAv – the crews most likely to be unfamiliar with Haneda\u2019s tight and high-density airspace.<\/p>\n

So here\u2019s everything you need to know before you step up to the plate.<\/p>\n

The core policy<\/h4>\n

Before we start, it\u2019s important to note this new policy is PIC-specific<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

When it comes fully into effect, operators will need to declare the PIC\u2019s name, licence number and contact info on the Airport Use Plan<\/strong> – the pre-arrival paperwork that international operators need to file with JCAB before operating into Haneda.<\/p>\n

If ATC flags a deviation (e.g. runway\/taxiway incursion, clearance bust etc) they will review the circumstances and decide whether to log it against the PIC or not (not all deviations will count). If it\u2019s confirmed, the PIC\u2019s name will go on a naughty-list<\/strong> the JCAB refers to as \u2018Watchlist of Captains Requiring Special Attention.\u2019<\/p>\n

Once a PIC has accumulated three \u201cstrikes\u201d (qualifying deviations), they will become a \u2018restricted captain.’<\/strong> This means they can no longer act as PIC on flights in or out of Haneda. They can<\/i> still fly there, just not in command<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Things to note<\/h4>\n

Deviations will be logged against the PIC\u2019s name, but operators won\u2019t totally dodge the ball either.<\/strong> If a restricted captain is listed as PIC, the operator will be asked to swap in a different captain. Refusing that may place the operator\u2019s own access to Haneda at risk.<\/p>\n

But here\u2019s some better news. The number of strikes against a PIC\u2019s name will decrease by one after each full year passes with no further deviation, after which they’re free to operate again.<\/p>\n

Why the change?<\/h4>\n

There was a string of ATC deviations by foreign BizAv crews<\/strong> through 2025. JCAB was sufficiently concerned that it issued an advisory<\/a> in October last year to address this. It included two serious examples of one aircraft entering Runway 04\/22 without a clearance, and another entering a closed taxiway, A1.<\/p>\n

The advisory asks operators to make sure they check the AIP, SUPs and Notams carefully. If there is any doubt over your clearance, they want you to stop before entering a runway and actively confirm ATC’s instructions.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And of course, underpinning all of this is the tragedy of Jan 2, 2024, when an Airbus A350 collided with a Dash 8 on Runway 34R.<\/strong> Since then there has been a significant push to improve<\/strong> runway safety<\/strong> at Haneda, including changes<\/a> to several ATC procedures.<\/p>\n

\"\"

There has been renewed scrutiny on clearance confusion and ATC procedures since a tragic ground-based collision in Jan 2024.<\/p><\/div>\n

New (ish) Safety Bulletin<\/h4>\n

In March this year, Haneda’s ATC office, along with Japan’s national government ministry published an extremely useful bulletin<\/a> that provides a fairly comprehensive list of the kinds of things we’re getting wrong out there.<\/strong> These are covered in detail in the bulletin, but here’s a sneak preview of the main ones.<\/p>\n

Taxiway Confusion:<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The bulletin places a heavy emphasis on the mis-understanding on taxiway clearances<\/strong> – take one look at the airport chart and you’ll understand why.<\/p>\n

There are several well known hotspots. Rather than blurt out a senseless series of taxiway designators, Tokyo’s Runway Safety team has summarised these into one handy graphic:<\/p>\n

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Incursion Prevention:<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

This one’s a reminder from an AIC published in the aftermath of the A350\/Dash 8 collision. It may seem like common sense, but a sequencing<\/strong> call<\/strong> from ATC<\/strong> (such as No.1\/No.2) is not a clearance<\/strong> to enter the runway. In fact there are only four phrases that let you do that:<\/p>\n