Hybrid helicopter-airplanes resume flights after December 9 grounding.
The U.S. Navy and the Air Force cleared their V-22 Ospreys for use after grounding them for two weeks.
The hybrid aircraft, which can fly both as an airplane and as a helicopter, has experienced a steady increase in crucial parts failures over the last five years, far sooner than expected after the Pentagon first purchased the fleet 20 years ago.
The military paused all flights of its Osprey fleet again after another near-crash at a New Mexico facility in November. The issue was discovered to be a metal failure in the rotational gearbox related to the way the alloys are manufactured. Because of the aircraft’s wide application, Air Force Spokeswoman Lt. Colonel Becky Heyse said that each military branch deemed it vital to resume use of the Ospreys as soon as possible.
“It’s really important we don’t keep these aircraft grounded,” Colonel Heyse said. “This allows us to fly and keep pilot proficiency while a longer-term fix is put in place.”
Naval Air Systems Command controls the entire Osprey program and reported that additional safety controls will be followed until the proprotor gearboxes on the aircraft can be replaced.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Defense Department officials as they assess the risks of deploying the Osprey aircraft.
- For Naval and Air Force commanders as they oversee the implementation of safety measures.
- For God’s protection over the pilots and service members using the Ospreys.
Sources: Navy Times, AP News
