The engine icing that caused a CV-22 Osprey bound for Edwards AFB, Calif., from Amarillo, Tex., on Oct. 18 to land in Arizona was no big deal, per V-22 program officials. They told the Amarillo Globe-News this week that the incident is still under investigation, but that it will not affect production Ospreys, which, unlike the text aircraft, have de-icing equipment. The Navy has had V-22s in Halifax, Nova Scotia, undergoing icing testing and started the third phase of icing testing Monday in Halifax.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.