Air Force Special Operations Command may shift the number of its CV-22 Osprey pilots and aircrew as it reevaluates how the controversial tilt-rotor aircraft is used — and as officials probe the cause of recent deadly crashes.
The review of the size of the Osprey force is part of a larger analysis of the aircraft operations being conducted by Air Force Special Operations Command, or AFSOC, Lt. Col. Rebecca Heyse, a command spokesperson, told Military.com. It’s possible that those service members could be trained for other aircraft.
The crash of an AFSOC Osprey off the coast of Japan in November that killed eight airmen signaled the most recent mishap for the aircraft and triggered a monthslong grounding of Ospreys flown by the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. An investigation is underway to find the root cause of the mechanical issues that are believed to be causing Osprey mishaps, and the aircraft remains restricted to flying within 30 minutes of a safe landing space.
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“AFSOC is currently evaluating all aspects of our CV-22 operations to ensure that we are properly organized, trained and equipped to conduct safe and effective missions,” Heyse said. “As part of this evaluation, we are considering various courses of action, including an analysis of the size of our CV-22 aircrew force.”
Heyse added that the command has “a long…
