Years After Troubling Report, Osprey Readiness Remains A Challenge. Do you think it's on the way out?

2015-08-25T17:35:38-04:00

Nearly two years since a report found evidence that the Marine Corps’ MV-22B Osprey was not mission ready due to a high operational tempo, the Corps has made significant efforts to try to turn that around. In 2013, a classified report from the Defense Department Inspector General found that the ready status of the Ospreys at six squadrons was being reported incorrectly the majority of the time. The report also found that readiness for the Osprey ranged from 45 to 58% from 2009 to 2011.

Since that time, the Marine Corps has introduced policies and training aimed at improving record keeping and maintenance training, said Maj. Paul Greenberg, a spokesman for Marine aviation at the Pentagon. From July 2014 to June 2015, the Osprey’s mission-capable rate has increased to 62% for stateside aircraft and 71% for deployed squadrons.

“We have confidence in the professionalism of our Marine pilots and maintainers, but realize there is always room for improvement,” Greenberg told Marine Corps Times. “A major component of improvement is enhancing our aviation maintenance training, to include better record keeping.”

Read the entire story at:
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2015/08/23/osprey-readiness-challenge-years-after-troubling-report/32002433/

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Aug 25 at 2015 5:39 PM

2015-08-25T17:39:14-04:00

Not unless there is something better... the more its used and trusted, the better asset it will be. Kudos to the Marines for hooking it up!

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Aug 25 at 2015 5:49 PM

2015-08-25T17:49:45-04:00

Unless it is considered operational security, I would like to hear opinions of active duty pilots and passengers on the relevancy of this dated airframe.

Response by Sgt Spencer Sikder made Aug 25 at 2015 6:34 PM

2015-08-25T18:34:12-04:00

What do we have to replace it? Not much of an option now that we have invested so much into it.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Aug 25 at 2015 7:44 PM

2015-08-25T19:44:38-04:00

Once there is a new capability to fill the need it does. Until then, we'll keep it. We hold onto functional gear a long time. Ask the Huey.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 25 at 2015 10:28 PM

2015-08-25T22:28:06-04:00

it may need to be decommissioned. It seems to have lots of trouble

Response by SFC John Birks made Aug 25 at 2015 10:53 PM

2015-08-25T22:53:16-04:00

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Aug 26 at 2015 7:15 AM

2015-08-26T07:15:54-04:00

Since the first one flew it has been plagued with Mechanical Problems. I've heard it been called a Flying Coffin for Marines and they have threatened the project since it started in 83 and since the first one flew I think in 87 or 89. I don't think it is going to disappear anytime soon but I think it is right to question this beasty as a Taxpayer and the return on our Investment. I'm Still a Geek though and I would love to see the Deadly Kinks worked out because I actually kinda like this bird.

Response by SSgt Tim Ricci made Aug 26 at 2015 10:12 AM

2015-08-26T10:12:01-04:00

It is here to stay!

Response by SSgt Tim Ricci made Aug 26 at 2015 10:12 AM

2015-08-26T10:12:52-04:00

Yes, it looks like OSHKOSH, go one hell of a contract

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Aug 26 at 2015 10:52 AM

2015-08-26T10:52:32-04:00

There seems to be strong sentiment for the Osprey by many on the forum. The primary reason it will stay in service will be as Rumsfeld said, "You go to war with what you got." If anyone read the long period of time spent, not to mention the lives lost during test flights and while deployed, there would be questions, IF it were a commercial airframe. Hope you folks loving it read the article that started this thread in its entirety. The Osprey will evolve, as did the B-52 and eventually the bugs will be ironed out. In today's climate of reducing the military, there will be no new replacements in the queue. It will give the B-52 and Huey a run for the longest serving air frame. As pointed out earlier, the beginnings of the Osprey was in the early 80s, along with the cell phone and home computers. Bet that was before many of the people on here were born.

Response by MSgt Erik Copp made Aug 27 at 2015 10:23 PM

2015-08-27T22:23:05-04:00

It's not going away. Billions upon billions have been sunk into it. Even if it were as bad as reported, they would not let it go away. I'm not a fan of the Ospreys but they do fly them a lot, they have done some good things as well. As with any newer aircraft there is going to be problems. The v22 has plenty of them, but, they will work through them.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Sep 3 at 2015 8:26 PM

2015-09-03T20:26:10-04:00

Don't know if it was DCS Air or CMC that recently testified all USMC aircraft were at about 60-70% availability rate because we had flown them hard for the last 15 years and didn't have the money to keep them up. Until we get an administration that cares about the military, that's the way it will be. Went through the same thing with Carter. Would walk onto the flight line and see five aircraft out of a 25 aircraft squadron available with the non flying 20 ready to go, but on admin hold because we couldn't afford to fix them if they broke. When Reagan came in it all changed.
I hear from the young pilots that the Osprey is one heck of a machine. Yes, they had trouble in development, but when the 46 was first introduced to the fleet the rear end had a habit of falling off. Serious problem in a much more simple aircraft than the Osprey. They fixed the problem on the 46 and it went on for another 50 years. Let's hope the engineers and the fleet pilots and wrench turners (or is it data dinks these days) have worked the problems out and the Osprey will perform like it's predecessor.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2015 10:11 PM

2015-09-03T22:11:19-04:00

The Osprey looks like an awesome aircraft, but has been plagued with problems. Turned into a huge money pit.

Response by GySgt Moses Lozano made Oct 27 at 2015 12:13 PM

2015-10-27T12:13:04-04:00

I don't know why the Marine Corps feels the need to come up with expensive and unreliable new aircraft! The focus should be on practical weaponry and troop welfare.

Response by LCpl Steven Fiore made Oct 29 at 2015 9:16 PM

2015-10-29T21:16:04-04:00

I remember wondering this same thing a decade ago. I remember when the Commandant and the SgtMajMC went up in one at the same time. After that, I figured they were safer than what was being published.