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Pentagon limits F-22 flights due to safety concerns
Source: Reuters
Pentagon limits F-22 flights due to safety concerns
By Phil Stewart and David Alexander
WASHINGTON | Tue May 15, 2012 3:52pm EDT
(Reuters) - The Pentagon announced on Tuesday new safety precautions for its F-22 fighter jets - including limiting how far they can fly away from airstrips - after pilots experienced symptoms of oxygen deprivation aboard the advanced stealth aircraft.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta believes the new precautions on the F-22s, built by Lockheed Martin Corp, are sufficient to guarantee safety. But the Pentagon did not rule out again grounding the aircraft, if necessary.
Panetta "will be receiving regular updates, and all options remain on the table going forward," said Pentagon spokesman George Little.
The F-22s were grounded for over five months last year because of the same issue. But concern over the jet's safety has again taken the spotlight after CBS's "60 Minutes" program aired a report this month in which two pilots said they had stopped flying the fighter due to safety concerns.
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By Phil Stewart and David Alexander
WASHINGTON | Tue May 15, 2012 3:52pm EDT
(Reuters) - The Pentagon announced on Tuesday new safety precautions for its F-22 fighter jets - including limiting how far they can fly away from airstrips - after pilots experienced symptoms of oxygen deprivation aboard the advanced stealth aircraft.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta believes the new precautions on the F-22s, built by Lockheed Martin Corp, are sufficient to guarantee safety. But the Pentagon did not rule out again grounding the aircraft, if necessary.
Panetta "will be receiving regular updates, and all options remain on the table going forward," said Pentagon spokesman George Little.
The F-22s were grounded for over five months last year because of the same issue. But concern over the jet's safety has again taken the spotlight after CBS's "60 Minutes" program aired a report this month in which two pilots said they had stopped flying the fighter due to safety concerns.
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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/15/us-usa-jets-lockheed-idUSBRE84E19U20120515
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