Pentagon Clears V-22 Osprey to Fly Again with New Safety Rules

The Pentagon has allowed the V-22 Osprey aircraft to resume flights with new safety rules after grounding them last month due to an incident in New Mexico.

The Osprey, a unique aircraft that can take off like a helicopter and fly like a plane, has been involved in four crashes since 2022, resulting in 20 deaths. The most recent issue occurred on November 20, when an Air Force Osprey had to make an emergency landing in New Mexico due to warning alerts. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and the aircraft was not damaged.

Following this, the Pentagon paused all Osprey training flights as a precaution. Investigators discovered a previously unknown mechanical issue, prompting the temporary halt.

Now, the Naval Air Systems Command, which manages the Osprey program, has introduced a new rule focusing on the aircraft’s prop rotor gearbox — a critical component similar to a car’s transmission. Each Osprey has two gearboxes, one for each rotor. These gearboxes have been linked to fatal crashes in the past, including one in Japan in December 2022 that killed seven airmen and another in California in June 2022 that killed five Marines.

The new rule states that only gearboxes with a certain amount of flight hours are considered safe. Gearboxes with fewer hours must be upgraded before the aircraft can fly again. However, the exact number of hours required for safety has not been disclosed due to security concerns.

Sources suggest newer gearboxes, which have fewer flight hours, may be more prone to failure. Training flights have resumed under these guidelines, but some families of those who died in past crashes remain skeptical.

The family of Staff Sgt. Jacob Galliher, who died in the Japan crash, questioned why flight hours are being used as the safety standard and why the cutoff threshold is not being shared publicly. They, along with other families, have filed lawsuits against the aircraft manufacturers.

Attorney Tim Loranger, representing some of these families, criticized the decision, calling for a thorough safety review. He emphasized the need for clear and immediate measures to prevent future tragedies.

Families are asking for more transparency and assurances that their loved ones’ deaths will lead to meaningful safety improvements.

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