V-22: Ice Ice Baby Redux

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July 24, 2006

The POGO blog took some �heat� last fall when we exposed that a V-22 was forced to make an emergency landing because the tiltrotor did not have de-icing equipment. At that time, we wondered how it could be possible to put an aircraft into full rate production without something so basic as protection against ice. Last week, a V-22 made an emergency landing on Iceland under similar conditions as the incident last fall. According to Inside the Navy (pay site):

Block A Ospreys lack the anti-ice protection planned for the block B version. But these recent incidents have prompted Naval Air Systems Command to issue a flight restriction intended to avoid the build up of ice on block A aircraft, said [Navy spokesman James] Darcy . In addition, officials now plan to add some anti-ice protection to the block A aircraft, though the Marine Corps has yet to decide on the specifics, he said.

Former weapons tester Phil Coyle puts it best: �In icing related failures just nine months ago, similar promises were made. The U.S. Marine Corps deserves better than this."

 

Authors: Beth Daley

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