Photo By Martin Egnash | Capt. Ryan D. O'Rourke outlines reduced visibility landing training aboard Marine...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. - The ideal conditions for a landing zone would be well lit, on a calm day, without sand or snow and in a safe location. Unfortunately that is not always the case.
In order to combat mistakes in unfavorable conditions, MV-22B Osprey pilots from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264 train to land in any condition during Reduced Visibility Landing training.
Capt. Ryan D. O’Rourke, a McHenry, Ill., native turned Osprey pilot, explains the importance of being able to land in reduced visibility conditions when he instructs new Osprey pilots during RVL simulator training.
“We need to be able to land under any conditions,” said O’Rourke. “Reduced visibility landings are what we do every day in Afghanistan.”
Having recently returned from a deployment to Afghanistan, O’Rourke has landed in his fair share of unfavorable conditions.
“Reduced visibility landing presents some unique challenges,” said O’Rourke. “It’s challenging to maintain your orientation at times.”
VMM-264 pilots prepare for those unique challenges by training in flight simulators.
“Flying flight simulators allows people to do things that are too risky to do in the aircraft,” said O’Rourke. “They also provide an opportunity to create challenging conditions that are hard to find in this area.”
The pilots usually get about an hour of flight time per session in the RVL simulations. During the training, they experience a plethora of weather conditions in various landing zones.
O’Rourke explained there are five levels of reduced visibility, commonly referred to as ‘brown-out’ conditions. During the simulation training, Marines experience all five levels and get to push their boundaries and maintain proficiency in flying Ospreys.
The lack of visibility means Osprey crew chiefs play a vital role in supporting the pilots to help maintain direction at all times by giving advice from different viewpoints.
“I firmly believe our crew chiefs are the best in the world,” said O’Rourke. “Flying is definitely a team effort.”
The ability to land in brown out conditions is a vital skill Marines from VMM-264 regularly train to master.
“The bottom line is that we train to a high standard because we support the Marines and service members on the ground,” said O’Rourke. “That’s our job.”
Whether Marines on the ground need to be moved to a sandy location or need supplies air-lifted to the middle of a blizzard, they can rely on VMM-264 Marines to land there no matter what the conditions, O'Rourke added.
| Date Taken: | 10.04.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 10.04.2011 15:02 |
| Story ID: | 78006 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 150 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, VMM-264 learns to land Ospreys in any condition, by Martin Egnash, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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