Posted on 05/01/2012 4:14:38 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Air Force leader says some pilots want to avoid F-22 because of oxygen-deficit problems
HAMPTON, Virginia – Some of America's 200 F-22 Raptor pilots want to be moved into other jobs because of oxygen-deficit problems with the stealth fighter, an Air Force leader said Monday.
Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, told reporters that a "very small" number of pilots have asked not to fly the fifth-generation fighter jets or to be reassigned.
"Obviously it's a very sensitive thing because we are trying ensure that the community fully understands all that we're doing to try to get to a solution," Hostage said.
He did not provide exact figures on the number of pilots who have asked to not fly the jets and said each pilot's request would be handled individually.
Air Force officials believe the airplane is safe to fly -- Hostage noted that he'll fly soon because he won't ask a pilot to do something that he will not.
The nation's F-22 fighter jets were grounded for four months last year after pilots complained of experiencing a lack of oxygen that can cause dizziness and blackouts. Air Force officials said they have taken steps against the problem, but still haven't pinpointed what's causing the hypoxia-like symptoms. Hypoxia is when the body doesn't receive enough oxygen.
An Air Force panel is meeting weekly to investigate the problem and has enlisted the help of NASA and the Navy to learn more about what happens to the body under extreme conditions, among other things.
Hostage spoke during a media day event at the base, highlighting the nation's most
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine fighter equipped with stealth technology. (Reuters)
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/04/30/air-force-leader-says-some-pilots-want-to-avoid-f-22-because-oxygen-deficit/#ixzz1tcEOi4jv
Yet if they die because of it then accident will be blamed on pilot error.
So in this case, “Suck it up” really isn’t an appropriate response...
“NASA and the Navy to learn more about what happens to the body under extreme conditions”
Instead of fixing the mechanical problem, they study the body responses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Didn’t you know hypoxia is a pilot error?
Can you imagine what a sacrifice these guys are making to say they don’t want to fly this airplane? The 22 is the pinnacle for a CAF pilot. To say you don’t want the job is to commit career suicide for almost anyone who does so.
The problem must be very very serious for this to happen. For these guys to chuck it because they fear for their lives more than they should already just by association with their job. They are seeing the oxygen problem as a clear and present unresolved life threatening issue.
What a crying shame. I wonder what the real story is behind all this mess?
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