6/6/2012 - WASHINGTON -- Safety measures put in place in May on F-22 Raptor flights have had no impact on operations, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. John Kirby told reporters today.
Kirby and Pentagon Press Secretary George Little last month announced restrictions to F-22 flight operations after 12 pilots reported hypoxia-like symptoms.
In response, Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta directed the retrofitting of automatic backup oxygen systems in the Raptor.
The Air Force is investigating the issue and providing monthly reports to Panetta.
In addition, all F-22 flights were ordered to remain near potential landing locations to enable quick recovery and landing should a pilot encounter problems during flight, Little said last month.
There are no plans to ground the aircraft, but Kirby said the Defense Department remains prepared for all possibilities.
"It's a safety-of-flight issue," he said. "Secretary Panetta understands that, and he's not taking any options off the table with respect to the future of the aircraft.
"Right now the aircraft is performing very well in an operational setting and ... we're just going to continue to watch this as we move forward," Kirby said.
Comments
6/8/2012 3:09:36 PM ET Hard to curb something that has contributed little to nothing.
EXUSAF, United States
6/7/2012 12:48:48 PM ET No operational impact because the F22 has 0 operation use at the moment
J, here and there
6/6/2012 11:30:58 AM ET jsut take the squishy body out of the AC while you're at it -sarcasam firmly intended- The AC is capable of more than the pilot can endure anyway... if you're gonna slave or drone the thing anyway why not just admit pilots are the ultimate legacy system Commence whining...
PF, PA
6/6/2012 10:53:32 AM ET Seems the right thing to do is while they are installing the back up system they should also install a drone operation system so the aircraft can be flown remotely if a pilot develops a problem and in future they could also fly it without a pilot on board makes allot of sense being we have the capability proven.
