VMM-364 conducts confined area landings

Photo By Sgt. Liah Smuin | A Marine with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 364 “Purple Foxes” flies an MV-22B Osprey during section and division confined area landings at Holtville Airfield, Calif., May 20. The training was conducted to familiarize both pilots and crew chiefs with landing in a small area around other aircraft. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Liah Kitchen/Released)  

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES

05.20.2016

Story by Pfc. Liah Smuin 

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 364 “Purple Foxes” practiced section and division confined area landings at Holtville Airfield, California, May 20.

The unit conducts this training to prepare new pilots and crew chiefs of MV-22B Ospreys to ensure they are mission ready for future deployments.

“It sets the foundation for setting our new pilots up for success as we prepare for deployment,” said Capt. Nathan Frame, a pilot training officer with VMM-364. “We reach those goals to get the squadron to where it needs to be to get ready for upcoming training events as well as future deployments.”

The squadron conducted the CALs to ensure they can aid in transporting, inserting and extracting ground units and cargo into potentially dangerous areas as well as on board ships.

The unit used three Ospreys to practice landings and take offs for several hours to ensure that the crew had the necessary skills to operate in real-life situations.

“If the grunts are the spear that gets chucked at the enemy, the MV-22 is the arm that throws it,” said Sgt. Sean Utz, an Opsrey crew chief with VMM-364. “It’s very important for getting the grunts on the ground.”

• Date Taken: 05.20.2016
• Date Posted: 05.31.2016 13:03
• Story ID: 199544
• Location: MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US
• Hometown: HOLTVILLE, CA, US