AF team to address UPEs

WASHINGTON – Brigadier General Bobbi Jo Doorenbos will lead an integration team to coordinate efforts to address aircrew Unexplained Physiologic Events (UPEs), the Air Force announced Jan. 22. Doorenbos will lead the UPE Integration Team, which will serve as AF headquarter’s focal point for identifying solutions to optimize human performance in tactical aviation and eliminate or minimize the impact of UPEs. PEs occur when aircrew experience symptoms that can result from a variety of factors, including hypoxia, hypocapnia, hypercapnia or disorientation. These symptoms can hinder their ability to fly safely and effectively. UPE rates have been historically low for the AF – “less than 1 percent per year,” she said. However, heightened awareness has increased aircrew reporting of in-flight physiologic symptoms that drives response actions from the AF and joint partners to address and implement recommendations to make operations safer. (Source: Secretary of the Air Force 01/22/18) Gulf Coast Note: There have been reports of PEs for pilots in the F-22 Raptor for a number of years that have had congressional testimony and medical evaluations conducted to determine the cause(s). Tyndall AFB, Fla., has the largest contingent of F-22s in the AF inventory. The Navy has also had recent PEs reported in its T-45 Goshawk trainer at Naval Air Stations Pensacola, Fla., Meridian, Miss., and Corpus Christi, Texas.