Airplanes Were Grounded May 3 Due To An Oxygen System
Issue
The Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Chief of Staff
Gen. Norton Schwartz have recently approved an implementation plan
developed by Air Combat Command officials that will allow the F-22
Raptor to resume flight operations after a four-month stand
down.
The commander of Air Combat Command directed a stand-down of the
fleet May 3 as a safety precaution, following 12 separate reported
incidents where pilots experienced hypoxia-like symptoms. The
incidents occurred over a three-year period beginning in April
2008. Officials remain focused on the priorities of aircrew safety
and combat readiness. The return-to-fly plan implements several
risk mitigation actions, to include rigorous inspections, training
on life support systems, and continued data collection.
"We now have enough insight from recent studies and
investigations that a return to flight is prudent and appropriate,"
Schwartz said. "We're managing the risks with our aircrews, and
we're continuing to study the F-22's oxygen systems and collect
data to improve its performance."
In a task force approach to implementation, Air Combat Command
officials developed a comprehensive incremental return-to-fly plan
that balances safety and the expedient qualification of pilots
against the inherent risks of flying advanced combat aircraft,
officials said.
The entire fleet will undergo an extensive inspection of the
life support systems before returning to flight, with follow-on
daily inspections, officials said. The aircraft is capable and
authorized to fly above 50,000 feet. Pilots will use additional
protective equipment and undergo baseline physiological tests. The
return-to-fly process will begin with instructor pilots and flight
leads regaining their necessary proficiency, then follow with other
F-22 wingmen.
Prior to the stand down, ACC officials convened a Class E Safety
Investigation Board in January 2011 to look into hypoxia-related
reports. At the same time, a Hypoxia Deep-Dive Integrated Product
Team began an in-depth study on safety issues involving aircraft
oxygen generation systems.
In June 2011, the Secretary of the Air Force directed the Air
Force Scientific Advisory Board to continue the oxygen generation
study concurrent with the ongoing SIB. A releasable report will be
made available later this year.