DC plan to fix military hypoxia issue

WASHINGTON — The Air Force and Navy still have no answers as to what is causing an physiological episodes (PEs) impacting pilots of tactical and training aircraft, including the T-45C trainer used at NAS Meridian, Miss., but the House Armed Services Committee is planning to order more studies and throw additional funds at the problem. In the last two years, pilots have reported a growing number of PEs in several other airplanes (F-35A, T-6 AF trainer, and the Navy’s F/A-18 Hornet). Shortness of breath and disorientation symptoms are similar throughout the numerous cases, but could actually be signs of various conditions including hypoxia - when carbon dioxide levels in the blood reach abnormally low and high levels. On May 10, the HASC put forward its version of the FY 2019 defense policy bill, which includes $10M and language to help fix the PE problem, despite several years of AF and Navy investigations. There doesn’t appear to be a single smoking gun to the PE issue. The AF intends to upgrade its T-6s’ onboard oxygen-generating system with a more effective condenser beginning in October, according to Materiel Command commander, Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski. Among some of the HASC’s plans are: To add $10M to accelerate development of technologies that could identify or mitigate PEs; and require the Navy to submit a report on modifications to the T-45 and its ground equipment made since 2017. The Navy’s assessment should indicate upgrade costs and success in addressing the PE issue. The AF is to report on its efforts in F-35As and T-6s. The T-6 trainer is used at Columbus AFB, Miss. The HASC proposal currently gives the service secretaries a waiver to those requirements if it’s determined to be in the service’s best interest. It’s also possible that some PE cases are psychological as opposed to being technical. (Source: Defense News 05/21/18)