Kumamoto Earthquake aircraft qualification rights extended until January 2027

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has announced in the Official Gazette (dated September 4, 2026) that the preservation measures for specific rights and interests regarding aircraft airworthiness certification and unmanned aircraft pilot skill certifications for victims of the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake will be extended until January 27, 2027. This applies to individuals residing within the specified disaster-affected areas and was promulgated as MLIT Notice No. 1113.

These measures are implemented based on the provisions of Article 3, Paragraph 2 of the Act on Special Measures for the Preservation of Rights and Interests of Victims of Specified Extraordinary Disasters (Act No. 85 of 1996), concerning the disaster designated by the Cabinet Order on the Designation of Specified Extraordinary Disasters Regarding the Disaster Caused by the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake and the Measures to be Applied Thereto (Cabinet Order No. 260 of 2026). The notice was issued on September 4, 2026, under the name of Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Yasuyuki Kaneko.

Specific Rights and Interests Subject to Extension

The specific rights and interests subject to the extension measures cover two types of qualifications and certifications in the aviation field. In both cases, the target individuals are those residing within the specified disaster-affected areas, and the expiration date has been unified to January 27, 2027.

• Aircraft airworthiness certification based on Article 132-13, Paragraph 1 of the Civil Aeronautics Act (Act No. 231 of 1952)
• Unmanned aircraft pilot skill certification based on the provisions of Article 132-40 of the Civil Aeronautics Act

Definition of Specified Disaster-Affected Areas

According to the remarks in the notice, “specified disaster-affected areas” refer to the areas of municipalities where the Disaster Relief Act (Act No. 118 of 1947) was applied during the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake. The deadline is extended to ensure that residents residing within the affected areas do not lose their qualifications and rights, such as aircraft airworthiness certifications and unmanned aircraft pilot skill certifications.

Impact on Victims

Through this extension, victims of the Kumamoto Earthquake can avoid the loss of rights due to the expiration of the validity period of aircraft airworthiness certifications and unmanned aircraft pilot skill certifications. This aims to protect the rights of residents in disaster-affected areas for whom procedures became difficult due to the disaster; they are required to complete the necessary procedures by January 27, 2027.

Residents of the affected areas who hold the applicable qualifications must perform the prescribed procedures by the extended expiration date. The MLIT intends to continue taking necessary measures for the purpose of preserving the rights and interests of the victims.

Source: MLIT Notice No. 1113 (Published in the Official Gazette on September 4, 2026) — Extension measures based on the Cabinet Order on the Designation of Specified Extraordinary Disasters Regarding the Disaster Caused by the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake and the Measures to be Applied Thereto (Cabinet Order No. 260 of 2026), and Article 3, Paragraph 2 of the Act on Special Measures for the Preservation of Rights and Interests of Victims of Specified Extraordinary Disasters (Act No. 85 of 1996).