Navy instructor pilots refusing to fly over safety concerns

[don-o]

Navy instructor pilots refusing to fly over safety concerns; Pence's son affected

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/04/04/navy-instructor-pilots-refusing-to-fly-over-safety-concerns-pences-son-affected.html

EXCLUSIVE: –  More than 100 U.S. Navy instructor pilots are refusing to fly in protest of what they say is the refusal of top brass to adequately address an urgent problem with training jets’ oxygen system, multiple instructor pilots tell Fox News.   

The boycott started late last week and has effectively grounded hundreds of training flights.

“The pilots don’t feel safe flying this aircraft,” one instructor pilot told Fox News.   

Among the hundreds of student pilots affected is Marine 1st Lt. Michael Pence, son of Vice President Pence – a factor that could put added pressure on the Pentagon to resolve the dispute.

Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker, head of naval aviation, told Fox News in an exclusive interview that the training jet issue is the “number one safety priority” across naval aviation right now.

“Right now we don't have the smoking gun,” he cautioned. 

In the last five years, physiological episodes, caused in part by problems with the oxygen system, have nearly quadrupled on the T-45 training jet, according to Capitol Hill testimony last week by senior naval aviators.

“There is no question that there are problems that are being covered up,” House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, said. “I am very concerned about the issue. It’s been getting worse over time and if you look at the statistics, the older airplanes are having bigger problems than newer airplanes.”

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said in a statement that the Navy “must address these safety concerns swiftly and decisively.”

Fox News interviewed multiple Navy flight instructors who say incidents of oxygen poisoning in the 30-year old T-45 Goshawk have “skyrocketed.”

“Histotoxic hypoxia” is the medical term associated with the disorientating disorder which can put pilots’ lives at risk, as well as those of civilians on the ground below. Two instructor pilots say the training jets are now averaging three incidents a week, as the Navy struggles to get to the bottom of the contamination.
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@LonestarDream

[don-o]

Great respect to the IP's to place their and the SNA's safety uppermost.

[mystery-ak]

Thought about your son when Fox reported this story a little while ago.

[don-o]

Thought about your son when Fox reported this story a little while ago.

He got his wings on Friday.

[mystery-ak]

He got his wings on Friday.

OMG...Congratulations....I hope he gave his Mom and girlfriend a set of wings too...I know that is an USAF tradition..not sure about Navy

[endicom]

This looks like the same problem they're having with Hornets and Super Hornets.

[Sanguine]

This looks like the same problem they're having with Hornets and Super Hornets.

So what causes it?  Some sort of contamination of the O₂ system?

[endicom]

So what causes it?  Some sort of contamination of the O₂ system?

They claim to not know.

[Sanguine]

They claim to not know.

Disturbing.

[endicom]

Disturbing.

Here's the thread: http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,256120.msg1275379.html#msg1275379

[Sanguine]

Here's the thread: http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,256120.msg1275379.html#msg1275379

Thanks.

[EC]

He got his wings on Friday.

@don-o

Woah! Congratulations!

[txradioguy]

More than 100 U.S. Navy instructor pilots are refusing to fly in protest of what they say is the refusal of top brass to adequately address an urgent problem with training jets’ oxygen system, multiple instructor pilots tell Fox News.   

The boycott started late last week and has effectively grounded hundreds of training flights.

“The pilots don’t feel safe flying this aircraft,” one instructor pilot told Fox News.   

Among the hundreds of student pilots affected is Marine 1st Lt. Michael Pence, son of Vice President Pence – a factor that could put added pressure on the Pentagon to resolve the dispute.

Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker, head of naval aviation, told Fox News in an exclusive interview that the training jet issue is the “number one safety priority” across naval aviation right now.

“Right now we don't have the smoking gun,” he cautioned. 

In the last five years, physiological episodes, caused in part by problems with the oxygen system, have nearly quadrupled on the T-45 training jet, according to Capitol Hill testimony last week by senior naval aviators.

The Navy is now looking at grounding the entire fleet of T-45s for the next few days, according to multiple pilots.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/04/04/navy-instructor-pilots-refusing-to-fly-over-safety-concerns-pences-son-affected.html

[don-o]

@don-o

Woah! Congratulations!

@EC
Next   stop (after SERE training) is Cherry Point to learn to fly Harriers. Hence the new avatar.

[txradioguy]

@EC
Next   stop (after SERE training) is Cherry Point to learn to fly Harriers. Hence the new avatar.

Congrats I know you must be proud.

Pardon my ignorance on this...but I thought the AV-8B's had already been phased out in favor of the F-35B?

[thackney]

Congrats I know you must be proud.

Pardon my ignorance on this...but I thought the AV-8B's had already been phased out in favor of the F-35B?

http://www.marines.mil/News/News-Display/Article/613385/us-marine-corps-moves-forward-with-f-35-transition/

The U.S. Marine Corps' F-35B Lightning II aircraft reached initial operational capability (IOC) on July 31, 2015 with a squadron of 10 F-35Bs ready for world-wide deployment.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121), based in Yuma, Arizona, was the first squadron in military history to become operational with an F-35 variant after completing years of developmental and operational testing, followed by an intensive Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI). This ORI, which included a capstone surge day, demonstrated that the aircraft and squadron have successfully met all IOC criteria.

"Marine Corps IOC for the F-35B is a significant accomplishment, but we will not stop to celebrate. In addition to aggressively continuing to mature this platform, we will further refine the operational concepts that allow us to fully leverage this transformational capability,” said Gen. Joseph Dunford in a July 2015 statement, when he was serving as Commandant of the Marine Corps. "It is capable of conducting close air support, offensive and defensive counter air, air interdiction, assault support escort and armed reconnaissance as part of a Marine Air Ground Task Force, or in support of the Joint Force."

Dunford added that the F-35B's ability to conduct operations from expeditionary airstrips and sea-based carriers provides our nation and its allies with our first 5th generation strike fighter, which will transform the way the Navy-Marine Corps team fights as a Marine Air-Ground Task Force

The Marine Corps has a program of record to procure 353 F-35Bs and 67 F-35Cs, for a total of 420 aircraft. As the future of Marine Corps tactical aviation, the F-35 will eventually replace three legacy platforms: the AV-8B Harrier, the F/A-18 Hornet, and the EA-6B Prowler. The transition is scheduled to be complete for active duty

Marine Corps aviation squadrons in fiscal year 2031. It is not a one-for-one swap. Because of the enhanced capabilities of the F-35, this strike fighter will replace a significantly greater number of legacy aircraft.

“The performance of VMFA-121, and the entire Marine Corps F-35B team over the past several years, has reinforced my feeling that we not only have great Marines in this program, but that we are giving them the right aircraft,” said Lt. Gen. Jon Davis, Deputy Commandant for Aviation.

Harrier squadrons will gradually transition to F-35 squadrons over the next 11 years. The planned sundown for the AV-8B is in 2026. This is, however, subject to review, assessment and final decision in 2019.

Marine Corps Hornet squadrons will gradually transition to F-35 squadrons over the next fifteen years. The planned sundown for the Marine Corps F/A-18 is in 2030. As with the Harrier, this is subject to review, assessment and final decision in 2019....

[EC]

@EC
Next   stop (after SERE training) is Cherry Point to learn to fly Harriers. Hence the new avatar.

Those are fun to mess around in - been taken up a couple times. I know their pilots absolutely adore them. 

[txradioguy]

2026 is a mighty long time to continue flying an airframe that was designed over 40 years ago.

[EC]

2026 is a mighty long time to continue flying an airframe that was designed over 40 years ago.

Ahem - see avatar. Designed in the early 60's, still going strong (and outflies anything you put up against her with the possible exception of her younger sister, the KA 52). 

[txradioguy]

Ahem - see avatar. Designed in the early 60's, still going strong (and outflies anything you put up against her with the possible exception of her younger sister, the KA 52). 

Yup shot some video of one buzzing me as I stood atop an aircraft hangar/bunker in Czech a couple years ago...the intimidation factor alone on those is stunning.

Only helo I've ever seen a helo pilot get nervous riding in was when I was with a bunch of army aviators and we had to fly in a CH-46 from the USS Constellation back to North Island NAS.

What the mechanics and flight crews are able to do to keep machines flying that were designed before I was born in some cases is simply amazing.

But at some point they need to be retired.   

[Idaho_Cowboy]

He got his wings on Friday.

Congratulations!