Move Follows Reports Of Pilots Refusing To Fly The Aircraft

The U.S. Navy has grounded its entire fleet of 197 T-45 Goshawk training aircraft due to issues apparently caused in part by issues with the oxygen systems aboard the aircraft.

Fox News reports that the grounding follows its exclusive report on a rise in physiological episodes experienced by instructor pilots and trainees while flying the airplanes. The Navy had initially issued a "pause" in operations that was set to expire Monday, but Navy spokesman Lt. Leslie Hubbell told Fox News that the pause had been "extended as long as our experts need as they diligently work to determine the root cause of the physiological episodes and solutions to fix the issue."

In recent testimony on Capitol Hill, senior naval aviators said that such episodes involving the T-45 have nearly quadrupled over the past five years.

The T-45 Goshawk is the primary trainer for the U.S. Navy. Trainees eventually go on to fly F/A-18 Hornets, EA-6B Prowlers, and E-2 Hawkeye airplanes.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.navy.mil