T-45C flights paused

CORONADO, Calif. -- The Navy implemented a three-day operational pause for its T-45C fleet Wednesday at the direction of Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker, commander of Naval Air Forces. The pause is in response to concerns raised by T-45C pilots over physiological episodes blamed on possible oxygen issues. It will allow time for leaders to talk to pilots, hear their concerns and discuss risk mitigation efforts. Last Friday, 94 flights were canceled at naval air station in Kingsville, Texas, Meridian, Miss., and Pensacola, Fla. Flight operations are expected to resume on Monday. The T-45C Goshawk is a two-seat, single-engine, carrier-capable jet trainer aircraft used by the Navy and Marine Corps for intermediate and advanced jet training. The T-45 has been in service since 1991. The Navy currently has 197 based at Kingsville, Meridian and Pensacola. (Source: NNS, 04/05/17) Previous