Ospreys evacuate injured sailor from ship
June 30, 2009 - 9:03 PM
Sue Book
CHERRY POINT - The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit and Marine Medium Tiltrotar Squadron VMM 263 conducted the first ship-to-shore emergency medical evacuation using Osprey aircraft, MCAS Cherry Point Public Affairs said on Tuesday.
Members of the unit used two MV-22B Ospreys on Thursday to evacuate a sailor from the USS Bataan.
At about 4:30 p.m., two Ospreys were returning to the Bataan after a routine mission when the pilots were notified of an emergency situation, the Marine Corps reported. It involved a sailor who had suffered head and hip injuries and was experiencing chest pains after falling.
"The aircraft were ordered to return to the ship at maximum speed," the report said. "After landing aboard Bataan, the patient and team of medical personnel were brought aboard the aircraft and lifted off at 4:50 p.m. from Bataan's flight deck. The aircraft traveled 147 nautical miles in 37 minutes to a regional airport where an ambulance was used to transfer the sailor to a hospital for further treatment. The sailor is in stable condition in the U.S. Central Command area awaiting further transfer."
Maj. Brett A. Hart, assistant operations officer for VMM 263 and one of the pilots on the mission, said, "Everybody from the ship made this very easy for us. It was an all-hands effort and everybody gave their utmost to ensure the safety of this sailor."
He said the biggest difference in this rescue and one using helicopters like the CH-46E Sea Knight is the rapid speed in which the mission was executed.
"By virtue of having this aircraft, we were able to do it much faster and farther," said Hart. "This is a fine example of why we have an aircraft like this."
After a sputtering start, the MV-22 Osprey is considered the Marine Corps' star battfield aircraft but is being closely scrutinized in Washington on cost and performance issues.
Aerospace DAILY reported on June 24 that the aircraft is again a target for some lawmakers and the Corps would be looking for whatever advantage they can find to keep it.
Aviation Week reported on Monday that an analysist for the Teal Group, which analyzes aerospace and defense industry matters, advised "don't bet against the Marines. They even beat Dick Cheney on this one," referring to several failed attempts by Cheney to quash the Osprey program while serving as George H.W. Bush's defense secretary.
The analyst concluded that the versatility highlighted by this kind mission will help make the Marines' case.
Reader Comments
georgia1 wrote:
It would have only taken one, not two H-46s to get a medevac ashore.
Perhaps he was extra large which required two V-22s, unless of course their still trying to accumulate double the 'medevac' sorties/hours by having an 'extra' V-22 tag-along?7/1/2009 5:32 AM EDT on newbernsj.com
Recommended (1)
bohica570 wrote:
A NEW "PEDRO" * IS BORN!!!
HOORAH!! 6/30/2009 9:43 PM EDT on newbernsj.com
SOURCE: Ospreys evacuate injured sailor from ship | aircraft, sailor, bataan - Sun Journal
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EDITORIAL: Go slow with Osprey; keep helicopters
OUR VIEW: Sorry history, new report reason for caution
By the North County Times Opinion staff -- [email protected] | Tuesday, June 30, 2009 12:11 AM PDT ∞
The U.S. Marine Corps has a stellar reputation worldwide, but we do have to question the wisdom of its leadership's determination to push the Osprey V-22 program.
Questions about this combination plane-and-helicopter hybrid have existed since its inception, and the aircraft was never tested in real-world conditions before being deployed.
Now in service in the war in Iraq, the Osprey has repeatedly come up short. Those failings have been so severe that plans to deploy the craft to Afghanistan have been put on hold.
Last week, the Government Accountability Office issued a scathing report that found numerous deficiencies with the Osprey. Among them are that it cannot carry the number of troops and equipment it was originally built to handle, or fly above 10,000 feet. That is a problem in Afghanistan, where mountains soar above 12,000 feet.
Even more telling, research and development costs have ballooned from $4.2 billion to nearly $13 billion, despite the reduction in the number planned for purchase by the Marine Corps and Air Force.
To date, the Marine Corps has spent nearly $29 billion to develop the craft, which first flew 20 years ago. Twenty-seven Marines, including 18 from Camp Pendleton and Miramar, were killed in a series of crashes between 1992 and 2000.
The military brass still has high hopes for the Osprey to become its new combat workhorse and ultimately to replace its fleet of Vietnam War-era helicopters. And our local Marine bases are beginning the phase-out process.
Last week's report, however, is suggesting the Corps keep the older aircraft so the Marines can carry out their missions.
Given the Osprey's sorry history, we join the report in urging caution.
Our fighting men and women deserve the best equipment the nation can provide. And so far, the Osprey just doesn't seem to pass muster.