Shimane Gliderfield

The glider field was closed following a request for abolition submitted by its sole operator, the Shimane University Aviation Club (島根大学体育会航空部). The official notice does not state a specific reason, but the closure is a direct result of the cessation of activities by the operating club. Such cessations for university aviation clubs in Japan are commonly driven by a combination of factors including declining student membership, funding difficulties, aging aircraft and equipment, and the high cost and complexity of meeting regulatory and maintenance standards.

The site is no longer a designated or active aviation facility. It has reverted to its primary status as public recreational land on the Hii River flood plain. The area of the former runway is now simply part of the riverside park, used for general recreation. While the outline of the strip may be faintly visible in satellite imagery, it has no official status and is not maintained for aviation use.

Shimane Gliderfield, officially known in Japan as Hii River Glider Port (斐伊川滑空場 - Hii-kawa Kakkūjō), was the primary facility for glider operations in Shimane Prefecture. The ICAO code JP-1799 is an unofficial identifier used by some third-party aviation databases; it was not an official ICAO code. The site was an officially permitted 'off-airfield landing and takeoff site' (場外離着陸場 - jōgai-richakuriku-jō) located on the wide, flat riverbed of the Hii River. Its entire operational history was dedicated to serving as the home base for the Shimane University Aviation Club, where students learned to fly and practice soaring. Operations typically involved winch-launching gliders from the grass and dirt runway.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Shimane Gliderfield. For the site to be reactivated, a new, well-funded organization would need to be established, acquire aircraft and ground equipment, and successfully navigate the complex regulatory process with the MLIT to have the site re-designated as an official landing area. Given that the university club that sustained it has ceased operations, the likelihood of a reopening is extremely low.