More T-45 restrictions

Less than a day after T-45 Goshawk instructor-pilots took to the air after a 12-day safety grounding, one of two senior instructors from Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas, reported headaches and oxygen deprivation during a flight that was designed to push new limitations and procedures. Following that incident, the Navy further restricted flying the T-45C to a 5,000 foot maximum altitude and 2-G maneuvers after a pilot reported headaches after performing dynamic flying in the two-seat trainer. The Texas-based instructor was intentionally performing maneuvers and pulling in excess of 4 Gs. The Navy had grounded all 197 of its T-45s this month after a reported 100 instructor-pilots refused to fly, citing concerns about the safety of the aircraft. The problem was highlighted after an instructor and student-aviator had to eject from a T-45 near NAS Meridian, Miss., after experiencing hypoxia-like symptoms. (Source: Military.com 04/21/17) Gulf Coast Note: NAS Pensacola, Fla., is a third Navy base flying T-45Cs for training. Training Squadron (VT) 86 conducts Naval Flight Officer training at Pensacola with the T-45C.