The Pentagon has announced plans to lift the ban on flights by the grounded V-22 Osprey next week. This decision comes after a high-level meeting where Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin endorsed the military services' plans for a safe and measured return to operations.
Naval Air Systems Command, which grounded the tilt-rotor aircraft about three months ago, will lift the ban and allow the services to begin implementing their plans to get the Osprey back into the air. The Osprey has been grounded since a November 29 Air Force Special Operations Command crash in Japan that resulted in the loss of eight service members.
The decision to end the flight ban is up to Naval Air Systems Command, but Defense Secretary Austin's endorsement of the services' plan is considered a key step in the process. The services have been working on plans to mitigate known material failures and establish a more conservative approach to operating the Osprey.
The U.S. military will also share its plans with Japan, the only international partner involved in the Osprey program. Japan had grounded its fleet of 14 V-22s after the November crash. The U.S. is committed to ensuring a safe process and will not resume flights in Japan until the Japanese government has been briefed on the plans.
The Osprey, a military aircraft that can take off like a helicopter and fly like an airplane, has faced scrutiny due to a series of accidents in recent years. The grounding has had a significant impact on the U.S. Marine Corps, which heavily relies on the Osprey for its aviation missions.
The Navy is planning to replace its C-2 Greyhounds with more than two dozen CMV-22 Ospreys, while the Air Force Special Operations Command has about 50 CV-22B Ospreys. The presidential fleet also uses a limited number of Ospreys for various purposes.
Overall, the decision to lift the ban on Osprey flights marks a significant development in the efforts to ensure the safe operation of this unique aircraft.
