The F-22 fleet remains grounded six weeks after Air Combat Command initiated a safety stand-down following reports of potential malfunctions with the aircraft’s onboard oxygen-generation system. ACC spokeswoman Capt. Jennifer Ferrau told the Daily Report Thursday that the ongoing investigation has expanded beyond the OBOGS system, which provides a pilot with breathable air in flight so he will not blackout. Investigators also are looking at other F-22 systems and comparing them to those on other platforms, such as the A-10, F-15E, F-16, F-35, and T-6. “The other aircraft that are being looked at have not had the same issues that led to the F-22 stand-down and subsequent investigation. However, the OBOGS is a relatively new technological application; as such, we want to open the aperture and determine if anything that we see in the F-22 has safety implications that could affect the other fleets,” stated Ferrau.
President Donald Trump’s nominee for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff touted his highly unusual background for the job as an asset and reaffirmed his commitment to stay apolitical during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 1.