I previously wrote an article about inspecting and verifying equipment at Kansai Airport, which covered how Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) uses a Saab 2000 to check ground navigation aids.

Today, I came across another video on YouTube. This time, it features a different inspection aircraft from the MLIT: a Bombardier BD-700, registration number JA006G, affectionately nicknamed “Check Star 6”.

Since it is a jet aircraft, it flies at a higher altitude and faster speed compared to the Saab 2000 from the last time, so everyone can compare the two.

With so many antennas on the lower fuselage, you can tell at a glance that this is no ordinary aircraft.

According to the description, this inspection mission was checking the VOR-A approach at Toyama Airport. For details on the VOR-A approach procedure, you can refer to the <a href=https://yinlei.org/x-plane10/view.php?file=doc/AIP-J/RJNT_Toyama.pdf>Toyama Airport charts provided on this site.

Check Star 6 approached along the 215-degree radial, passed over the VOR station twice at the 1-minute 30-second and 3-minute 30-second marks, and then turned around and flew away after completing the inspection.

The video might look a bit monotonous, but this periodic inspection work ensures flight safety and makes our travels safer. We should definitely thank them for their hard work.