Inside the V-22's Carrier Delivery Mission

Unlike the fixed-wing Greyhounds, the Ospreys can land in helicopter mode, so the tiltrotors do not need arresting gears, trap wires and aircraft-mounted tail hooks to make carrier landings.

The Navy and Marines are using the recent Vinson demonstrations to help determine how best to integrate Ospreys into normal carrier operations, especially those involving the ship’s Hornet, Super Hornet and Growler jets.

The Osprey tiltrotors can cover relatively expansive distances as fixed-wing aircraft before transiting into helicopter mode as they approach a carrier. 

While the Ospreys have no need for arresting gear, pilots do have to be careful where they operate the tiltrotors because of their footprint, downwash and other operational restrictions.

Navy carrier officials say Osprey operations have presented no concerns for other ship-based aircraft. In many ways, they say, the V-22s make it easier to conduct deck flights.

Unlike Greyhounds, Ospreys can carry containerized cargo, which should make carrier logistics easier to perform. However, such cargo operations can hold up other jet flight operations.