HASC seeks more T-45 info

The U.S. House Armed Services Committee wants more information from the Navy as part of its ongoing investigation into problems with T-45C Goshawk training aircraft used by Naval Air Stations Meridian, Miss., Pensacola, Fla., and Kingsville, Texas. In a May 5 letter to the Chief of Naval Operations, the HASC requested a schedule of all tests and evaluations on equipment of the T-45; plus location of testing, frequency, and actions to the test results. The letter was provided to media by U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), an HASC member. Gaetz had criticized DOD for its slow response after T-45 pilots reported episodes of sudden-onset hypoxia while flying. After briefly halting T-45 training in April, the Navy resumed T-45 training below 10,000 feet with a modified oxygen mask. Students should be able to complete about 75 percent of their course work at that altitude, the Navy had said. At PNAS, the T-45 is used to train Naval Flight Officers and navigators. (Source: Pensacola News Journal) Gulf Coast Note: There was a Texas-based training mission that a pilot reportedly had issues with hypoxia-like symptoms below the 10,000-foot threshold. The T-45 is used for undergraduate jet pilot training at NAS Meridian.