Hawaii Air National Guard F-22 pilot has brief oxygen deficit; lands safely, cleared for duty

Washington Post ^ | July 10, 2012 | AP

[JerseyanExile]

The Hawaii Air National Guard said Tuesday one of its pilots briefly experienced an oxygen deficit while flying an F-22 stealth fighter last week.

The pilot was heading back to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam from a routine training sortie when sensors indicated he wasn’t getting as much oxygen as he should, said Lt. Col. Charles Anthony, a spokesman for the Hawaii Guard.

The pilot also felt dizzy. He activated the emergency oxygen system until his symptoms abated and the plane’s oxygen generating system returned to normal.

The pilot landed safely after Friday’s incident, the first time a Hawaii F-22 pilot has experienced hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation, Anthony said.

A medical exam cleared the pilot for duty. All 14 of the Hawaii National Guard’s F-22 planes are operational, Anthony said.

The nation’s F-22 fighter jets were grounded for four months last year after pilots complained of experiencing a lack of oxygen that can cause dizziness and blackouts.

[Errant]

Chinese Chips

[neodad]

I wonder how the Hawaian ANG got Raptors?

[al baby]

I know tall skinny black dude

[Hegewisch Dupa]

Because THIS time when the Japs come at us, they’ll have a little surprise waiting for them

[Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America]

How many OBOGS-related Chinese chips are in a F-22? It’s frustrating this problem STILL exists and that our military seems eager to disclose our weaknesses.

[al baby]

I think it was the Germans that bombed Pearl Harbour

[Strategerist]

Well, they’re pretty well placed for where they might be needed.

And Air National Guard squadrons routinely win competitions against regular squadrons - much more experienced pilots, lots of hours.

[NonValueAdded]

Nonsense! Everyone knows that Air National Guard service isn’t service at all! Just ask Dan Rather.

[Errant]

Actually, I'm just guessing. The only thing I've read that has been circulating in the public is that radar absorbing material during high speed overheats the material, and creates fumes that somehow get into the pilot's oxygen system.

This is the suspected cause of the fatal F-22 crash in AK. I can't believe the problem hasn't been found and corrected by now.

Maybe it's all just a plot to eliminate manned aircraft and replace them with unmanned aircraft?!

[Jyotishi]

> I wonder how the Hawaian ANG got Raptors?

F-22 Raptor rolls out in Hawaii

http://www.af.mil
Posted 7/12/2010   Updated 7/12/2010

by Tech. Sgt. Cohen A. Young
Defense Media Activity - Hawaii News Bureau

7/12/2010 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (AFNS)
— Top military and local community leaders gathered here
July 9 for a dedication service for the F-22 Raptor.

Hundreds of onlookers gathered with members of the 199th
Fighter Squadron, 154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard
and people from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to welcome
the F-22, a fifth generation fighter, which replaces the
F-15 Eagle that the squadron has flown since 1987. The
199th FS is the first guard unit to receive the F-22.

“The 199th (FS members prove) that National Guard forces
are capable of maintaining a strategic presence with its
active duty association and providing a great value to
our nation and the state of Hawaii,” said Gen. Craig R.
McKinley, the chief of the National Guard Bureau.

The F-22, a single-seat, twin engine aircraft that
utilizes stealth technology, was originally designed
primarily as an air superiority fighter.

“These F-22 Raptors are the state of the art air
superiority fighter and couldn’t be located at a better
place,” General McKinley said.

Many of the guard members will serve as the lead in a
“total force” concept that is already in use at JB
Hickam. The 199th FS, 15th Air Wing will fly and help
maintain the F-22s that bring a new capability to the
HIANG, as well as the Air Force.

“The Air Force is a seamless total force. Along with our
Air Force Reserve and civilians, the National Guard and
our active duty component form a very severe fighting
force that can get the job done,” General McKinley said.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123213089

[JRandomFreeper]

Everyone knows that Air National Guard service isn’t service at all! Just ask Dan Rather.

Dan Rather can blow it out his @$$. I spent more time deployed as a reservist than I did when I was active duty.

/johnny

[FreeAtlanta]

The National Guard has F-22s?????????

Thanks to oBozo and McCain, don’t we have less than 200 of these great machines?

[Strategerist]

I’d bet money the non-combat accidental death rate of F-102/F-106 pilots in the US was higher than the overall death rate of all servicemen deployed to Vietnam (including all the REMFs like Al Gore, of course).

Flying high-performance fighter aircraft of any kind is an odd way of “dodging” something where you might be killed.

[RicocheT]

The F-22 is a great fighter and a war winner, but they have got to solve this oxygen problem as too many pilots have experienced it. No O2 no working pilot brain, crash!

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Our current fleet is 195 F-22s, eight test and 187 operational. HANG has 14 of them, almost 10% of the entire fleet?

I guess we’re serious about making sure the Japanese don’t pull another sneak attack on Pearl.

[pterional]

This is why life support and the altitude chamber training is so important in recognizing the symptoms of hypoxia.

I am sure that the F22 are in Hawaii to escort Air force One back and forth to Hawaii .

[Dapper 26]

Are you saying In-No-Way?????? Just like they got C-17s.

[doorgunner69]

Ziinnnngggg!!!!

[spetznaz]

nt fleet is 195 F-22s, eight test and 187 operational. HANG has 14 of them, almost 10% of the entire fleet? I guess we’re serious about making sure the Japanese don’t pull another sneak attack on Pearl.

Hawaii actually does make sense once one considers which country has led to the Pacific region gaining significance. China's current/forecast rise has led to some shifts in asset positioning. For instance, there is a shift in the number of submarines (with the shift leading to more submarines being based in the Pacific as compared to the Atlantic).

Maj. Gen. Jan-Marc Jouas, director of Pacific Air Forces operations, said the Raptor represents an "exponential leap in the war-fighting capabilities of U.S. forces in the Pacific."

"Basing the F-22 Raptor in Hawaii underscores America's commitment to the Pacific region and adds further air dominance capability to United States Pacific Command," Jouas said.

In May, Brig. Gen. Joseph K. Kim, commander of the 154th Wing of the Hawaii Air National Guard, said, "Location being everything, having these fighters puts us within one hop of what could be a possible area of conflict out in the theater."