Air Combat Command last week stood down the F-22 fleet indefinitely over reports about potential malfunctions with the aircraft’s onboard oxygen-generation system that provides the pilot with breathable air in flight. “The safety of our airmen is paramount and we will take the necessary time to ensure we perform a thorough investigation,” ACC officials told the Daily Report. They said the investigation will focus on pinpointing the cause of pilot “physiological-hypoxia-like” events reported through Air Force safety channels, and then devising, testing, and fielding solutions. A malfunctioning oxygen system could cause the pilot to blackout and face a life-threatening situation. In one incident, an F-22 pilot at JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, scraped his aircraft’s underside on trees during a landing approach, but could not recall what happened, reported Blooomberg. The grounding comes six months after the fatal crash of an F-22 in Alaska. Since that crash is still under investigation, the ACC officials declined to say whether the oxygen system was a factor. In January, though, ACC restricted the flight ceiling for F-22 training, prohibiting pilots from flying higher than 25,000 feet, due to concern over the oxygen system. The aircraft’s normal operating ceiling is above 50,000 feet. (See our initial coverage)
Collaborative Combat Aircraft designs from Anduril and General Atomics passed their Critical Design Reviews early in November, clearing the way for detailed production efforts to get underway, the Air Force said. How future versions will be upgraded is still under discussion.