USMC Spokesman: Halting Osprey Program 'Illogical'

They've become a staple in the skies over eastern North Carolina, but if one congressman gets his way, you won't see any MV-22 Ospreys flying here -- or anywhere else.

By: Philip Jones | WNCT-On Your Side
Published: June 25, 2009

They've become a staple in the skies over eastern North Carolina, but if one congressman gets his way, you won't see any MV-22 Ospreys flying here -- or anywhere else.

Rep. Ed Towns (D-NY) says he wants production on the aircraft halted.

Philip Jones explains why the Marine Corps says that's "ridiculous" -- and the impact grounding the Osprey could have on the east:

It's an aircraft with a checkered past -- not even the Marine Corps denies that.

But after 25 years of development and $27 billion worth of funding, the Corps calls the MV-22 osprey an integral part of its future.

So you can probably understand why some folks at Marine Corps headquarters are bristling at New York Rep. Ed Towns' recommendation to shut down the entire Osprey program.

“The conclusion that we should stop the production of Ospreys based on what little data that they seem to be focused on just doesn't make any sense,” Marine Corps spokesman Maj. Eric Dent told Nine On Your Side. “It's illogical.”

Towns made the recommendation Wednesday. He chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform committee, which has been studying the aircraft's effectiveness.

In his comments, Towns said the Osprey has trouble dealing with extreme temperatures and sand.

He said it lacks maneuverability and is an aircraft that has failed expensively -- with a list of what it can't do that is longer than what it can do.

But the Marine Corps says the Ospreys that have deployed to Iraq have succeeded with flying colors.

All told, there are about 80 Ospreys at MCAS New River in Jacksonville -- and more than a thousand Marines associated with them.

The head of the Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce says losing them in this economy could be crippling.

“If you have a program such as that that goes away, the impact is tremendous on the community,” Mona Padrick said.

Despite the criticism, the Marine Corps says grounding the osprey is an idea that just won't fly.

“Based on one committee's recommendation, you don't stop production,” Maj. Dent said. “The MV-22 is going to be a part of the Marine Corps' way ahead. That's a fact.”

The Corps admits the Osprey does have some flaws when it comes to reliability and maintainability, but says those problems are being addressed head-on.