The Defense Department on Friday said the tilt-rotor V-22 Osprey can return to full flight status following a complete stand-down after several crashes over the past two years in which 20 U.S. service members were killed.
Naval Air Systems Command grounded the U.S. military’s entire fleet of the tiltrotor helicopter following the fatal Nov. 29 crash of an Air Force CV-22 off the coast of Japan that killed eight Airmen assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command.
“The grounding provided time for a thorough review of the mishap and formulation of risk-mitigation controls to assist with safely returning the V-22 to flight operations,” Navy officials said. “Maintenance and procedural changes have been implemented to address the material failure that allows for a safe return to flight.”
The Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Air Force all use the Osprey, which can take off and land like a helicopter but then fly like an airplane. Each service will determine the procedure to return the aircraft to service, officials said.
The Air Force Special Operations Command is the primary Osprey customer in the Air Force. Command officials launched a multi-phase plan to return the aircraft to flight status, including additional ground and simulator training, a review of maintenance records and the implementation of new safety protocols.
The second phase will be a multi-month program for crews, Air Force mechanics and technicians who keep the Osprey flying. It will focus on regaining basic mission proficiency after the stand-down and extra training in line with new maintenance protocols, officials said.
The final phase will mean the resumption of full missions, multilateral exercises and operational deployments, officials said.
“Each squadron will progress through this phase at different speeds based on a variety of factors, including maintenance requirements for aircraft, experience level of personnel in the squadron and weather impact to flight schedules,” Air Force Special Operations Command officials said.
Naval Air Systems Command said it remains committed to safety regarding all V-22 operations, despite the concerns raised by recent disasters.
“The V-22 plays an integral role in supporting our Nation’s defense and returning these vital assets to flight is critical to supporting our nation’s interests,” the Navy said.
