Delivering critical resources to victims of natural disasters is one of the most important missions the Bell Boeing V-22 can undertake. Humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations require all the support available to ensure the people impacted receive the care, food, clothing and resources they need.
When Bell designed the tiltrotor, our teams were excited not only for the development of this revolutionary technology, but also for the unlimited capability it could offer our nation’s military. The Bell Boeing V-22 continues to be a vital asset as it supports a recent tragedy, a devastating earthquake in Haiti.
On Aug. 28, 2021, the U.S. Marine Corps operated the MV-22 in Jeremie, Haiti, carrying relief supplies to the Haitian citizens. According to an Associated Press article by Ben Fox, “people waved and cheered as a Marine Corps unit from North Carolina descended in a tilt-rotor Osprey with pallets of rice, tarps and other supplies. Most of the supplies, however, were not destined for Jeremie. They were for distribution to remote mountain communities where landslides destroyed homes and the small plots of the many subsistence farmers in the area.”
With unparalleled range and vertical takeoff and landing ability, the V-22 can seamlessly navigate open ocean and mountainous terrain while traveling more than 860 nautical miles. Fox states that “two crews took off from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, flew to Port-au-Prince to pick up supplies, and then made multiple trips across the mountainous southern peninsula to deliver their loads. They stopped only to refuel on board the USS Arlington off the coast of Haiti.” The tiltrotor’s unique capabilities make it the ideal aircraft to complete humanitarian and disaster relief missions – especially in a marine environment.
Time and time again, the V-22 has been used for special operations, combat search and rescue, and logistics and cargo transport missions. The aircraft currently serves the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy, as well as the Japan Ground Self Defense Force and has amassed more than 600,000 flight hours. Knowing the V-22 is helping communities when they need it most reinforces how valuable this aircraft is to successfully executing military operations worldwide. And it reminds our teams at Bell why we are proud to build dynamic vertical lift products that serve our incredible customers.
Release and photo Bell
