The Osprey Deployment: Use the Accident Report for Prevention

The Ministry of Defense has made public its analysis of the report on the April crash of the U.S. Marine Corps MV22 Osprey that occurred in Morocco. It is essential that the analysis of this report on the origins of the accident be used in measures to prevent further incidents.

The report concluded that the accident was caused by human error; that a series of mistakes by the inexperienced copilot led to the accident. With a strong wind of 14 meters per second, he defied the flight manual and turned the aircraft in a way that made this 14-meter-per-second wind the tailwind, attempting to adjust the rotary wing farther then regulations allowed.

They insist that the cause of this accident has nothing to do with the Osprey’s airframe.

The analysis is based on the detailed accident report from the U.S. military; its content is persuasive. Any reports that this aircraft is particularly dangerous when compared to other helicopters are biased.

What is needed is a concrete plan to improve the safety of this aircraft. The U.S. Marine Corps have already revised their training manual and are planning to include rotary wing adjustment while flying with a tailwind in their pilot training simulations.

This accident is directly connected to the lives of those in the military. Of course, the American military will make serious strides to maintain the safety of their aircraft and personnel, but the Japanese must also confirm that they are doing so.

The Japan-America Joint Committee is discussing restrictions on flights and low-altitude flying over bases located in densely populated areas and definite plans on the use of the Osprey over Japan. We must aim for an agreement that puts the greatest emphasis on safety.

In the middle of September, the Ministry of Defense is planning to clearly voice its opinion with regards to the safety of the Osprey using the accident report from Florida, which was made public in June.

Okinawa Prefecture, into which the Osprey will be deployed, as well as the various local governments in Honshu that are likely to have practice flights over their land are opposing the flights. Is this not an overreaction?

These practice flights are to prepare for emergencies in northeast Asia and are directly connected to Japan’s security. We must not forget the reason that the Osprey is being deployed in Okinawa.

The Osprey is nearly twice as fast and can travel four times the distance of the CH46 transport helicopter currently in use at the Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Base. It can travel with people or cargo to the Senkakusho Islands in less than an hour without refueling.

This deployment greatly improves the ability of Japan and America to jointly conduct military operations and is an effective deterrent against hostilities in the area. The American government has declared that its targets are the joint defense of the Senkakusho and Nanseisho Islands. It can also be expected to contribute to humanitarian aid efforts and disaster relief.

The government must explain its confirmation of the Osprey’s safety as well as the importance behind the increased mobility of the U.S. military to the local governments and citizenry.