Hurry, hurry!
Please step back. Step back please.
Isn't that it?
Hey, we don't have nearly enough autograph paper.
Bring everything we have in stock. Bring out the ones that didn't sell first.
The old ones. Put away the new ones. Hurry.
Have a good flight.
- Where's it landing? - Open spot.
Then to Gate 3 by bus.
Too bad. That's too far to see. I liked him too.
A huge crowd's gathering.
Who's coming?
- Justin?! - Yes.
I heard he was coming on a private jet.
- Wow, cool. - Private jet, huh?
That's what I call a Hollywood star.
The terminal's in chaos from all the fans.
More private jets are
flying into Haneda these days. One more thing to look forward to.
I want that flight. I'm a huge fan of his.
There's no time to be obsessing. The terminal's not the only place that's busy.
Pilots of private jets aren't used to
approaching Haneda, so they often take the wrong route.
They'll be other implications if you don't back them up closely.
Takeuchi, I'm having you handle the approach.
November 512. Turn left heading 040.
For vector to ILS Zulu Runway 34 Left. Final approach course
Descend and maintain 5,000.
November 512. Heading 040. Descending and maintaining 5,000.
November 512. Resume on navigation direct to Aaron.
Cleared for ILS Zulu Runway 34 Left approach.
Resume navigation direct to Aaron. Cleared for ILS Zulu Runway 34 Left.
I'm sorry.
November 512. Confirm.
Maintain 5,000.
November 512. Roger.
I'm sorry. Can you take my place for a while?
Yamashita-kun. The private jet I'm handing over to you now
keeps dropping altitude. Keep your eye on the approach.
- Roger. Oh, well. - That's Takeuchi-san for you.
Even if it's the first time for the pilot, she guides him to straight to the Tower.
November 512 departing Apollo.
This must be it.
November 512. Runway 34 Left cleared to land.
Wind 040 at 16.
Will it be okay?
Wind's starting to pick up.
I guess I'll listen in too.
Looks like the private jet ahead is struggling against the wind too.
Wind's getting stronger. Keep your composure.
Tokyo Tower. Japan Air 112 approaching Apollo.
Request wind check.
Japan Air 112. Runway 34 Left cleared to land.
Wind 040 at 18.
Tokyo Tower. Japan Air 112.
I will speak in Japanese.
The aircraft ahead of us appears to be struggling against the wind.
It's not a problem. Please proceed to approach.
Is it really not a problem? I think it's affected quite a bit.
Really, huh?
When the wind's blowing from the northeast like today,
it hits the hangar close to the 34 Left touchdown area and
causes disturbance in the air current sometimes.
I don't think that would be a problem today.
We aren't familiar with Haneda.
Request wind information before touchdown please.
November 512. Roger.
I know that.
Wind's starting to change.
November 512. Wind check please.
November 512. Wind 030 at 16.
November 512. Say again please.
November 512. Wind 030 at 16.
Don't make me say it over and over.
He's providing pretty detailed information to the aircraft ahead of us.
It still feels like we're struggling against the wind.
Can you ask them one more time?
Tokyo Tower. Japan Air 112. Confirm clear to land.
What the hell's going on today?
Japan Air 112. Affirm clear to land.
Can we get a wind check one more time?
November 512. Wind check please.
I told you already. November 512. Wind 030 at 17.
Hey, let me see this.
- No way. - Come on, let me see.
- Quiet please. - Tower Tokyo. Japan Air 112.
From which direction is the wind blowing?
Please give us a wind check.
Japan Air 112 is struggling against the wind!
Approaching minimum.
Check.
Minimum.
I have it.
Japan Air 112. Wind 330 at 15.
Japan Air 112. Turn right Alpha 8. Contact to 121 decimal 7.
They must've felt the turbulence inside too.
Traffic Controller there.
Why didn't you give us wind information sooner?
I heard you. Please route your complaints through your company.
Were you even listening to our request?
Stop it, Nishikawa. I apologize.
What's with that pilot? He makes it sound like it was my fault.
But you did get the request, didn't you?
Weren't you too preoccupied with the private jet?
No. I provided the Triple 7 with
enough essential information to land too.
Now, now. Don't get so hot.
But seriously, a lot of pilots are self-centered, aren't they?
Fact is, they can't even take off or land
without our instructions.
Can you press a little harder on the right side?
Thanks. Ah...that's it.
- OUCH! - You're plenty self-centered yourself.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, but you failed the practical test.
Yes, I know. But this time, the air traffic controller...
Before you complain about the air traffic controller,
think about how you can safely fly an aircraft.
- I'm sorry. - I'll give you one more chance.
Also, there will be an exchange meeting starting tomorrow with people from
each section of airline companies, including controllers from Tokyo Control.
- Exchange meeting? - Pilots, cabin attendants,
ground staff, mechanics, and us air traffic controllers get together to
- exchange ideas. - Getting to know each other's duties
is an important part of building a safer aviation system.
Shinoda, Sakai, Yamashita. This time you three will attend.
That's all for today.
Dacchi, aren't you glad? It's your former workplace.
- You'll get to see your co-workers. - Yes, that's true.
Argh, what a pain. Why do I have to waste my time
mingling with pilots?
Don't you know? Exchange meeting is your chance.
- What do you mean? - I know tons of guys who
say they had sweet times with ground staff and cabin attendants
they befriended at exchange meetings.
- Incidentally, I'm one of them. - What do you mean sweet times?
Yamashita-kun. That's not something we can talk about at work.
Girls in the aviation business love air traffic controllers.
- Really? - Sure.
Once they find out you're an ATC, you're inundated with questions.
"Really? You're an ATC?" "Really? That's awesome!"
- "How I can contact you?" and so on. - That easily?
Yeah. When you get to that point, the rest is easy.
Try whispering your usual transmission phrase in her ear.
Japan Air. Okamoto. Takeoff.
Roger. That gave me chills. It even gives guys like me chills.
I'll give it my best shot.
He believed us. He's so gullible. Right?
Japan Air Okamoto. Takeoff.
Ja... Huh?
Sorry.
I'm Nakajima, Air Traffic Controller.
Ladies and gentlemen.
Did you know that many air traffic controllers are involved in
supporting the aircraft from the time it takes off until it lands?
For an aircraft to take flight, the air traffic controller in the
airport control tower must first clear it for takeoff,
Japan Air 517. Cleared for takeoff.
and is responsible until the landing gear is retracted.
Then the airport terminal radar room takes over.
Japan Air 517. Tokyo Departure radar contact.
After that, the respective ACC,
Air Control Center's air traffic controller takes over,
Japan Air 517. Tokyo Control. Fly heading 270 for vector to Nagoya.
Climb and maintain flight level 240.
and guides it on the scheduled flight path.
And when the aircraft approaches the destination airport,
in reverse order from takeoff, it's passed on from the terminal radar room to
the control tower, and goes on to land safely.
In addition, the ground traffic controller handles the taxiing from the Tower.
I see.
Naturally, I enjoy maintenance itself, but
the feeling I get the moment I power up a sleeping aircraft
is to die for.
That's one switch us pilots can't touch.
We hear that air traffic controllers are under tremendous stress,
How are you dealing with it, Sakai-san?
I'm perfectly fine. Maybe because I sleep well?
Swimming in my sleep (suimin chu).
You're funny, aren't you?
But when I wake up in the morning, my blanket's gone.
Do you suppose I swam too much in my dream?
Oh, my phone.
Excuse me. I'll talk to you later.
- Excuse me. - Good bye.
Air traffic controllers must be really stressed out.
Yeah, too bad since she's cute.
It's amazing you're an air traffic controller. You're still so young.
Age has nothing to do with protecting safety in the sky.
I guess a controller has to be steadfast like you.
Not really. Would you like to hear it?
My communication technique. May I?
- Japan Air. Beautiful Girl. - Oh, Nishikawa-kun.
- Nishikawa-kun. Nishikawa-kun? - Nishikawa-kun.
Takeoff.
Arriving late?
You're a big shot now, huh, Nishikawa?
I got hung up practicing the simulator.
Simulator?
But aren't you taking the practical test on a real plane?
Yeah, but it's not looking good.
I kinda messed up and I only have one more chance.
- Is that right. - The air traffic controller
wouldn't give me wind information at all. What rotten luck.
- This is tea, isn't it? - Probably.
Are you sure those three youngsters are going to be okay?
Wouldn't it have been better if
someone like Yano-san went too?
I suggested that too, but
Yuuki-san insisted on those three.
I think he feels it's meaningless unless they
talk directly with their peers and understand each other.
Understand each other, huh?
I'm not sure I trust that guy.
- What do you mean? - In the first place,
why did he come back right after he was assigned to Headquarters?
Who knows what he did over there.
Pilots have to be licensed.
So one license for one specific make and model is the rule.
In other words, in order to fly a different make and model,
you have to get a new license.
It's tough to be a pilot, isn't it?
It's the same with air traffic controllers too.
If you get assigned to another airport,
you have to get a new rating for that airport.
- What's a rating? - It's a license to control air traffic.
- If you can't, you're disqualified. - Okay, okay.
Besides, aircraft can be put on autopilot, but
there's no automation in air traffic control. In that respect, unlike pilots,
a high level of competence is sought from each of us.
May I ask a question?
- Sure. - How do air traffic controllers determine
the order of precedence for landing and takeoff?
The rule is first come, first serve.
Basically, we respond in the order they come.
Then you wouldn't give special treatment to a plane just because
- a celebrity's onboard, would you? - Of course not.
That's strange. Yesterday, the controller
was constantly attending to a private jet
and wouldn't readily respond to requests from our Triple 7.
Triple 7?
Then were you the pilot who was complaining?
Then you're that controller?
So that's what it was.
Just because your landing didn't go well,
please don't put the blame on the air traffic controller.
Please avoid affecting the pilot's course of action
with your lack of competence.
I wish you wouldn't shift the incompetence
of the pilot to the air traffic controller.
Pilot's field of vision is limited.
It's impossible to read the wind perfectly.
That's why you people are there, aren't you?
It's true a pilot's field of vision is narrow. You think anything goes
as long as your aircraft takes off and lands safely.
Hey. Don't get all worked up!
The fact that you get worked up so easily
disqualifies you as an air traffic controller, doesn't it?
You're the one who complained first!
Stop it, please.
Sakai-san, stop them.
Don't get it? What I mean is...
Stop!
Shinoda?!
I'd heard that you became an air traffic controller.
- So you're working out of Haneda? - Yes. From October.
There's so much I don't know yet, though.
Brings back memories. Me, you, and...
Honjo. When we were on ground, we used to go eat together all the time, huh?
Yeah.
Does Honjo know you became a air traffic controller?
I still call him, but he never answers.
I see.
Do you keep in touch with him?
I took paperwork from the company to his home a few times.
The helper told me where the key was.
Did you talk to him?
Honjo's clock stopped since the day of that accident.
Although it's understandable.
He had just realized his dream to be a pilot.
There's something I want you to
give Honjo-kun if you see him.
Japan Air 54. Tokyo Approach.
Cleared via Cream arrival. Maintain 1 1,000.
Japan Air 66. Reduce speed to 190 knots for arrival spacing.
Japan Air 358. Contact Tower 124 decimal 35.
Perfect.
What're you so smug about? Time to switch.
Yano-san. How's this? Take a look at this.
- Isn't it beautiful? - What's this?
These strips laying around all over. Think of the person behind you.
I can't tell what's what in this mess.
Well...this is Japan Air 54 at 10,000 feet.
And this is Japan Air 66...
Studying by yourself?
Yes. I wanted to learn to control traffic at night.
Your dedication is admirable, but don't go overboard.
Getting plenty of rest is an important part of your job too.
I'll be leaving soon.
- I'm heading out then. - Good night.
Sensei?
His life isn't in danger.
However, he may be left with paralysis in the lower body.
Honjo. I'm coming in.
Hey.
It's filthy in here. Hasn't your helper been coming?
I'm taking my practical test now.
For the Triple 7 you wanted to fly.
I screwed up right off the bat and I have to take it over again, though.
Seriously, I'm up the creek.
Things don't always go your way, huh?
But you watch, I'll get that license for sure.
I saw Shinoda today.
She's an air traffic controller now, working out of Haneda.
So, what did you come for?
Oh...I had something to deliver.
Here.
It's for a rehabilitation facility with a good reputation.
Shinoda wanted me to give it to you.
Well, I guess I'll get going. See you around.
Thank you for your patience. Have a good flight.
Excuse me, but please get in this line.
Kirishima-san, last call soon.
Passengers for Nagasaki.
Please come forward.
Oh boy. Taxiway's jammed and
it's taking at least 20 minutes to takeoff.
We're inundated with complaints from pilots demanding to know when they can takeoff.
It's not our fault. The delay's due to
mechanical and boarding problems, right?
Airspace is getting congested too. There are 10 aircraft holding.
Stop your whining and do what you need to do.
Shinoda. Why don't you route Japan Air 1735 to a local airport?
Will do.
Japan Air 1735. Contact to Tower 118 decimal 725.
Japan Air 1735. Roger.
When will we be cleared to land?
Him again?
Not yet. Please hold and wait.
We've been holding for more than 10 minutes now.
It's looking less congested compared to 10 minutes ago.
Instructions will be given by us.
Just shut up and follow our instructions. What's wrong with him?
Hello, this is Yuuki at the Tower. Got it.
Runway closure at Narita.
Aircraft with low fuel will be flying here all at once.
What?! Under this circumstance? That's crazy.
Start landing as many aircraft as you can right now.
Japan Air 112. Runway 34 Right cleared to land.
Wind 320 at 17.
Japan Air 112. Roger.
- Flap 30. - Flap 30 set.
Landing checklist.
Complete.
Check.
Go around.
- Go around?! - What's he doing!
Why the hell couldn't it come down just now?
Japan Air 112. Contact Departure.
Was it that difficult? Today's landing.
No.
It's true the airport was congested, and if the captain decides he can't land,
going around for safety sake is the right thing to do.
However, even in today's condition, I could've landed.
One more time. I'll give you one more check ride.
If I determine that you lack the skills during the next check ride,
you'll have to give up flying the Triple 7.
Seriously, that pilot does whatever he pleases, doesn't he?
He demanded to land immediately, and then goes around!
- No use getting all worked up. - This is more than I can take.
He'll never be a pilot. Never, never, never.
Okay, okay. You wanna go for a drink?
- I'll listen to your gripes over a drink. - You always say that
- but you never listen to me. - I'll listen to you today.
- You'd better today. - Let's go to that place.
- Please don't get drunk first. - I won't.
- A report? - Yes. I think we should file a
formal complaint against that pilot.
Now, now, now. That's
- taking it a bit too far. - Why?
A pilot who doesn't follow the ATC's instruction
is liable to cause trouble at any time.
Do you understand the consequence of what you're saying?
A complaint from an air traffic controller
is the same thing as a complaint from the Transportation Ministry.
- So? - Unless something really major happened,
you shouldn't casually file a complaint.
It would change the course of one person's life.
Is what I'm saying that wrong?
A complaint can't be filed without unanimous approval. Overruled. Dismissed.
Do you have a minute?
This is our job. I don't think it's a good idea to
bring your personal feelings into it.
Pilots aren't your equipment.
They all have their own mind and act accordingly.
I don't think you can expect them to follow
- the ATC's instructions to a tee. - Don't cover up for him
-just because he used to be your colleague. - I just...!
I just think you should try a little harder to
listen to what the pilots are saying.
It's the other way around, isn't it? It's because they don't listen
to what we're saying that I'm making it an issue.
Are aircraft always safe if they do exactly as instructed
- by air traffic controllers? - Yes, they are.
Far safer, at least, than pilots doing whatever they please.
Is it okay (iisu ka) if I sit in this chair (isu)? (pun on "is it okay" and "chair")
- Go ahead. - That didn't work.
I'm done for the day. Please take over.
Are those two going to be okay?
It's coming across very clearly that they had a falling out.
Isn't today the observation tour of JAL?
I hope they don't start a fight over there.
Worry not. This is when Sakai-san comes in handy.
Sakai-san's inability to read the situation
- will send a warm breeze to those two. - I see.
She promptly picks up an orange and canned tea...
Is it coming? Come on!
I'm heading out first.
- She fled. - She read the situation perfectly.
Someone do something.
Kaori-san.
- I'm sorry to keep you waiting. - I'm looking forward to the observation tour.
How do you like being an air traffic controller?
It's tough. Much more than I expected.
We were talking about all of us going for a drink with you.
- When are you free? - What's this, a reunion?
Let's talk about it later, okay?
I wanted to ask you a few questions before the tour. Do you have time?
I thought you'd be here.
How did your practical test go?
He said one last time.
If I don't make it on my next try,
I'll have to give up my dream of flying the Triple 7.
You may not believe it, but I did pretty good on the simulator.
My supervisor said I had the knack for it too.
But when I'm sitting in the real pilot's seat,
it's completely different.
I feel the weight of hundreds of lives
behind me, and I get scared.
What are you doing?
It was Honjo's dream to fly the Triple 7.
I know. He used to talk about it all bright-eyed.
He said he liked the long wings of Triple 7.
I'm so pathetic. I already told him
I was definitely getting the license for Triple 7.
You can do it, Nishikawa-kun.
A lot of air traffic controllers are watching over
the airplane you fly.
So put your mind at ease and fly. You're not alone.
Inter Asia 38. Tokyo Tower. Runway 22. Continue approach.
What are you doing? You're messing up the line.
Yamashita. Switch with Shinoda for a while.
- Huh? Why? - Just do as I say and switch.
And listen with me for a while.
Japan Air 512. Runway 22 cleared to land.
Wind 180 at 15.
It's getting too close to the aircraft ahead.
All Nippon 58. Procedure speed is not required.
Reduce speed to 150 knots or less.
See? It's starting to fall apart.
Japan Air 510. Wind direction will be shifting below 1,000 feet.
Use caution.
I don't think you need to say all that.
Japan Air 510. Roger.
Thank you!
All Nippon 58. ...one copter one mile west of Daiba.
Holding at 1,000 feet.
All Nippon 58. Thank you for the information.
All stations. Tokyo Tower.
Rough air reported at 1,000 feet
by Boeing 737 ten minutes ago.
Thank you for the information.
But Shinoda-san gives them too much unnecessary information.
Have you ever been told thank you? By pilots.
Depending on the make and model, aircraft react differently to wind and speed.
Do you take those things into consideration?
Of course I don't.
But compared to Shinoda-san, technically I'm much more...
It's true Shinoda's still green.
She's often shaky as well.
But she's always putting herself in the pilot's shoes.
What can she do so that the pilot can fly without apprehension?
That's what she's thinking about.
She's trying to fly the sky with them.
Don't just look at the radar. Look at the airplane too.
You never know if the wheels are out.
Don't relax just because you cleared to land.
Scan the runway for anything unusual.
"Yamashita-san. A little too full of himself at times, but..."
"...leads to the pilot's trust..."
"It's something that I lack."
"Tomorrow's my last test flight. I'm gonna pass for sure! For his sake too. Nishikawa."
- Flap 20. - Flap 20.
- Set speed. - Set speed.
All Nippon 590. Contact Departure 126 decimal 0.
Another go around? How many is this now?
It's the fourth aircraft. The wind must be pretty strong.
Here it comes. Yamashita-kun's Triple 7.
Japan Air 112. Runway 34 Right cleared to land.
Wind 320 at 16.
Japan Air 112. Roger. Cleared to land Runway 34 Right.
Do you think it's safe to let Yamashita-kun handle it?
- 1,000. - Check.
- 500 - Stabilize.
If I don't make it on my next try,
I'll have to give up my dream of flying the Triple 7.
But she's always putting herself in the pilot's shoes.
She's trying to fly the sky with them.
Japan Air 112. Wind 330 at 18.
Roger.
Approaching minimum.
Check.
Minimum.
Landing.
Japan Air 112. Wind 340 at 17.
Japan Air 112. Wind 330 at 16.
Japan Air 112. Turn left Charlie 7.
Contact Ground 118 decimal 225.
Looks like the weather might hold up.
How did you know?
Because the birds are flying high.
Kaori-chan, you have a natural talent to be a bird patrol.
If air traffic control gets too tough, you can come here any time.
You'll get to see lots of cute birds like this. Look.
Sugiura-san. Peep peep.
What is it? Huh?
Thank you.
I heard Nishikawa-kun got his Triple 7 license.
That's really none of my concern.
Oh yeah?
This is the first time since I became an air traffic controller.
To come to a place like this.
I've only been viewing the scenery from that Tower.
Scenery looks different depending on where you stand, doesn't it?
I guess that goes without saying.
I forgot.
Thanks.
Business trip to Fukuoka?
It's the pits. From next week, with Yuuki-san.
I'm pretty depressed already.
Sounds good to me. Two men traveling.
Take this opportunity to get to know each other.
That's right. I'm so envious. I'd like to go too.
I'd trade places with you if I could.
Alrighty then. Shall we go out for a drink to
- further our friendship too? - I'll pass. See you.
I'll pass too.
Me too. I have to get ready for the trip.
- Well... - I'm sorry. Good night.
Thank God. I spent a lot of money this month.
I have to make a payment on the shogi board I bought last year...
Who's there!
Oh, it's you, Okamoto-san.
- Then shall we go out for a drink? - But Yano-san, I thought this month...
- It's to hush you up. - In that case, sushi.
Toro, toro, uni. Toro, toro...
Ah, I feel refreshed.
Running helps you forget about unpleasant things, huh?
Hey, are you listening?
What? I wanted to listen in on the air traffic controllers' conversation.
Fine. Why don't you listen to them forever then?
- Come on, don't be mad. - I'm mad.
You're always ignoring me and listening to that.
Why don't you become an air traffic controller then?
If you do, I'll listen to your voice all the time.
Huh? Excuse me?
I'm just kidding. Don't take it so seriously.
Fine. I'll do it. Air traffic controller, right?
What? Are you serious?
Of course not. Let's get going.