thedrifter
09-20-06, 09:25 AM
Osprey cleared for Iraq service; Controversial aircraft receives vote of confidence
By: JOE BECK - Staff Writer
MIRAMAR MARINE CORPS AIR STATION ---- The MV-22 Osprey aircraft, its future in doubt after two fatal crashes in 2000, is headed for its first combat missions next year, a top Marine official at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station said Tuesday in an interview with the North County Times.
The Osprey is scheduled to deploy next year from the East Coast and head for Iraq, Lt. Col. Rick A. Pagel said. Pagel, the station operations officer at Miramar, made his comments minutes after two Ospreys arrived at Miramar from Edwards Air Force Base. The Ospreys traveled to Miramar to plan for their appearance at the base's air show in October.
"It's standing up, it's becoming an operational air frame for us," Pagel said. "We're using it. We're flying it."
The planned deployment to the war in Iraq represents a vote of confidence in the Osprey's airworthiness after years of investigation and debate. An Osprey crash on April 8, 2000, during training in Tucson, Ariz., killed all 19 Marines on board, including 14 from Camp Pendleton and one from Miramar. Another crash, in December 2000 in North Carolina, claimed the lives of four more Marines. During the same year, a Pentagon inspector general audit warned of 23 major operational shortcomings in the aircraft.
The Osprey's design incorporates two 38-foot tilt rotors that allow it to take off and land like a helicopter and cruise like a high-speed turboprop while traveling forward.
Although he stopped short of guaranteeing no more questions will arise about the Osprey's safety, Pagel said he was confident that the Marines have done as much as they reasonably can to limit the risks to pilots and passengers in Iraq.
"Our limited assets are our Marines, and we're not going to intentionally put them in something that's not going to let them do their jobs and cause a mishap," Pagel said.
A certain amount of risk is inherent with all military aircraft, and it's normal for pilots and others to periodically discover safety problems, even with planes and helicopters that have long service records without serious accidents, Pagel said. As for the Osprey, he said, it would not be surprising if mechanics, pilots and others learned of new flaws in Iraq.
"That's just aviation in general," he said.
An internal Marine Corps accident review board said human error and a condition identified as power settling or asymmetrical vortex ring state caused the Tucson crash. The condition is caused by one of the aircraft's tilt rotors stalling when the aircraft is flying in helicopter mode. As a result, the other tilt-rotor drives the aircraft upward until it turns downward and crashes into the ground.
The 23 deficiencies found in the Osprey by the Pentagon audit included an absence of defensive weapons. Pagel said the Ospreys carry chaff and flares for air defense, but he was unsure whether the concerns about defensive weaponry had been addressed.
He said the first Ospreys to be stationed permanently at Miramar are scheduled to arrive in 2008 and 2009. In the meantime, the public will be able to see the aircraft on display and in flight at the Miramar air show Oct. 13-15. The event is open to the public and admission is free.
-- Contact staff writer Joe Beck at (760) 740-3516 or jbeck@nctimes.com.
Ellie
By: JOE BECK - Staff Writer
MIRAMAR MARINE CORPS AIR STATION ---- The MV-22 Osprey aircraft, its future in doubt after two fatal crashes in 2000, is headed for its first combat missions next year, a top Marine official at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station said Tuesday in an interview with the North County Times.
The Osprey is scheduled to deploy next year from the East Coast and head for Iraq, Lt. Col. Rick A. Pagel said. Pagel, the station operations officer at Miramar, made his comments minutes after two Ospreys arrived at Miramar from Edwards Air Force Base. The Ospreys traveled to Miramar to plan for their appearance at the base's air show in October.
"It's standing up, it's becoming an operational air frame for us," Pagel said. "We're using it. We're flying it."
The planned deployment to the war in Iraq represents a vote of confidence in the Osprey's airworthiness after years of investigation and debate. An Osprey crash on April 8, 2000, during training in Tucson, Ariz., killed all 19 Marines on board, including 14 from Camp Pendleton and one from Miramar. Another crash, in December 2000 in North Carolina, claimed the lives of four more Marines. During the same year, a Pentagon inspector general audit warned of 23 major operational shortcomings in the aircraft.
The Osprey's design incorporates two 38-foot tilt rotors that allow it to take off and land like a helicopter and cruise like a high-speed turboprop while traveling forward.
Although he stopped short of guaranteeing no more questions will arise about the Osprey's safety, Pagel said he was confident that the Marines have done as much as they reasonably can to limit the risks to pilots and passengers in Iraq.
"Our limited assets are our Marines, and we're not going to intentionally put them in something that's not going to let them do their jobs and cause a mishap," Pagel said.
A certain amount of risk is inherent with all military aircraft, and it's normal for pilots and others to periodically discover safety problems, even with planes and helicopters that have long service records without serious accidents, Pagel said. As for the Osprey, he said, it would not be surprising if mechanics, pilots and others learned of new flaws in Iraq.
"That's just aviation in general," he said.
An internal Marine Corps accident review board said human error and a condition identified as power settling or asymmetrical vortex ring state caused the Tucson crash. The condition is caused by one of the aircraft's tilt rotors stalling when the aircraft is flying in helicopter mode. As a result, the other tilt-rotor drives the aircraft upward until it turns downward and crashes into the ground.
The 23 deficiencies found in the Osprey by the Pentagon audit included an absence of defensive weapons. Pagel said the Ospreys carry chaff and flares for air defense, but he was unsure whether the concerns about defensive weaponry had been addressed.
He said the first Ospreys to be stationed permanently at Miramar are scheduled to arrive in 2008 and 2009. In the meantime, the public will be able to see the aircraft on display and in flight at the Miramar air show Oct. 13-15. The event is open to the public and admission is free.
-- Contact staff writer Joe Beck at (760) 740-3516 or jbeck@nctimes.com.
Ellie