The US Navy has ordered a comprehensive 30 day investigation into the problems the T-45 Goshawk trainer and F-18 Hornet are experiencing with their breathing systems. Fighter Sweep told you earlier this month that more than 100 Navy instructor pilots had gone on strike refusing to fly due to what they felt was an unsafe T-45 Goshawk training aircraft.
In an April 21 memo obtained by Military.com, Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Bill Moran directs Adm. Scott Swift, the commander of all naval forces in the Pacific, to lead the review, probing the “facts, circumstances and processes” surrounding recent cockpit episodes, including how Navy officials have addressed each incident.
“The seriousness in which the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations view these incidents is reflected in the seniority of those leading the review,” Moran wrote in the memo. “[Swift] and his team have full authority to draw on previous work and subject matter experts from across the naval aviation and Navy medicine enterprise to assist in their task.” – Military.com
On April 18th the Navy began to let highly experienced instructor pilots to fly the T-45 Goshaw trainer again with certain restrictions such as limiting flights up to 10,000 feet and using a modified oxygen mask. Earlier this month the Navy grounded the entire T-45 fleet due to the breathing system issue.
Featured image of a T-45 Goshawk assigned to Training Airwing Two (TRAWING-2) about to land on an arrested recovery on board the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kristopher Wilson, US Navy
