Entertainment News

A man and his son enjoy landing an airplane as part of a simulator game using a modified radar at Itami Sky Park.

ITAMI, Hyogo -- Simulator games using two modified air traffic control radars that have been set up in a park on the premises of Osaka International Airport are gaining popularity among families and airplane fans.

The radars, which had been used at the airport until March last year, have been installed at Itami Sky Park on the west side of the airport.

One of the radars, which used to display information like flight altitudes, plays a video explaining the role of radars.

The other radar, which was used for guiding planes into land, has been made into a simulator game for children, in which they can control landing planes following guidance on a screen. The equipment also shows live images of planes taking off and landing that were taken by cameras at the airport.

To reduce the noise pollution around the airport, the national and local governments have been jointly developing Itami Sky Park on an artificial hill, which offers great views.

The northern half of the park tentatively opened in July 2006, and the entire nine-hectare land area will open to the public in the middle of July this year. Since its tentative opening, the park has drawn about 830,000 visitors.

Admission to the park is free. (Opening hours: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. throughout the year). Paid parking is available.