U.S. Military Will Resume Osprey Flights

"The U.S. military said it would resume flights using the Osprey aircraft, months after its entire fleet was indefinitely grounded over a series of deadly crashes.

Hundreds of V-22 Ospreys were grounded in December following a fatal crash off the coast of Japan that killed eight U.S. service members.

Japan also grounded its Osprey fleet after the Nov. 29 accident. The grounding was lifted following a thorough safety review of the incident, the U.S. Navy and the Japanese military said Friday. Maintenance and procedural changes had been implemented, they added.

Since entering service in 2007, the Osprey has been involved in accidents that have killed dozens of U.S. service members, leading to concerns over its safety and design.

Three Marines died in a crash in Australia in August, while four more were killed in a crash in Norway in March 2022. Five died in a crash in Southern California in June 2022, which was blamed on mechanical failure.

The Osprey's grounding caused a logistical headache for the Marines, who have about 300 of the aircraft, as well as for the Navy, which has used them to supply aircraft carriers. The Air Force mainly deploys them for special forces.

The $90 million Osprey has become a workhorse for the U.S. military because of its unique attributes.

A joint venture between Boeing and Textron has built more than 450 of the aircraft, which has a tilt-rotor design that allows it to take off and land vertically like a helicopter and fly forward like an airplane. It boasts the higher speed, range and altitude of a fixed-wing aircraft, with the ability to fly at up to 300 miles an hour for more than 400 miles while carrying as many as 24 people.

Following the Japan crash, House investigators called on Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to explain problems with the tilt-rotor aircraft and what the Pentagon is doing to ensure its safety.

The Committee on Oversight and Accountability said it recognized the advantages of the tilt-rotor design, as well as the 27,000 jobs tied to the Osprey.

"However, if the same tilt-rotor technology is planned for use in civilian aircraft or in future military aircraft, additional oversight is needed to ensure public safety," said the committee.

Boeing and Textron didn't immediately respond to requests for comment." [1]

1. U.S. News: U.S. Military Will Resume Osprey Flights. Vipers, Gareth.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 09 Mar 2024: A.3.