Marine Corps aircrews begin conducting MV-22 aircraft functional check flights and pilot proficiency flights aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 21, 2012. These flights, which will occur over the next several weeks, will take place mostly over water, with any over land portion conducted within the MCAS Iwakuni airspace and traffic pattern. The aircraft is part of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265. VMM-265 aircraft are based at, and will operate out of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. Basing the Osprey in Okinawa will significantly strengthen the United States’ ability to provide for the defense of Japan, perform humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations and fulfill other Alliance roles.