Wednesday, July 25, 2012

US 'confident' F-22 jet oxygen problems solved

US 'confident' F-22 jet oxygen problems solved The US Air Force is "confident" it has identified the problems that led some pilots to complain of dizzy spells and blackouts while flying its most advanced fighter jet, the Pentagon said Tuesday. The "root cause of the issue is the supply of oxygen" -- necessary for pilots flying at high altitudes -- "not the quality of oxygen delivered to pilots," Pentagon spokesman George Little told reporters. To fix the problem, Little said the Air Force will replace a valve that was causing inflation in a vest pilots wear at high altitudes, impeding breathing for some. The Air Force will also increase the flow of oxygen to pilots by removing a filter that monitored whether the oxygen contained any contaminants, after determining there were none.