F-16s fly despite Israel formaldehyde fumes

[unhappycamper]

F-16s fly despite Israel formaldehyde fumes
By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Mar 25, 2008 5:41:35 EDT

Air Combat Command doesn’t have plans to ground its American F-16 Fighting Falcons in the wake of the decision by the Israeli air force to halt training flights by the newest version of the fighter, the F-16I.

The Israeli air force announced March 21 that it was stopping training flights of F-16Is because of formaldehyde fumes found in one jet and complaints by pilots about strong smells in F-16I cockpits. The Israel government is concerned that the formaldehyde fumes could lead to cancer.

Air Combat Command spokesman Maj. Thomas Crosson said ACC was aware of reports about the Israeli decision, but there had been no similar complaints about the U.S. F-16s, most of them bought in 1980s and 1990s.

Laurie Quincy, a spokeswoman for the F-16’s builder, Lockheed Martin, said the company had not received similar reports from other F-16 customers. Quincy added that Lockheed is assisting the Israeli government’s inquiry.

Israel began taking delivery of the I-model jets in 2004. The two-seat I-models have several modifications not found on older F-16s flown by the U.S. Air Force such as conformal fuel tanks and different avionics suites.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/03/airforce_f16_acc_israel_032408w/