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Physiological issues in flight are going down, but still persist

Five years after a spike in reports of dangerous mental and physical effects in flight, military aviators are breathing easier. But problems persist.

By Rachel S. Cohen, Irene Loewenson and Diana Stancy Correll

2 years ago

Staff Sgt. Kimberly May, noncommissioned officer in charge of aerospace and operations physiology for the 1st Special Operations Support Squadron, operates a hypoxia-familiarization trainer at Hurlburt Field, Florida, July 11, 2019. May and her team of five train aircrew by using a reduced oxygen breathing device (ROBD) to detect the signs of hypoxia during flight. Hypoxia is a condition caused by a lack of oxygen that can lead to injury to personnel, damage to Air Force assets and death. (Senior Airman Dennis Spain/Air Force)

The Air Force is fighting in-flight physiological issues but can’t end them, Pentagon watchdog says

“All occupations have some hazards that cannot be eliminated.”

By Rachel S. Cohen

4 years ago

Dutch F-16 makes emergency landing after plane shoots itself

Sometimes, even inanimate objects will do anything to get out of training.

By J.D. Simkins

6 years ago

T-6 hypoxia problem solved, Air Force announces

The Air Force is fixing the problems with the T-6 Texan II that led to fluctuations in the oxygen concentration and caused hypoxia.

By Stephen Losey

7 years ago

Air Force, Navy team up to find root of hypoxia and other issues plaguing pilots

Air Force and Navy officials are boosting their collaboration in the effort to find the causes of, and solutions to hypoxia and other unexplained physiological episodes plaguing military pilots.

By Stephen Losey

7 years ago

Here’s how House lawmakers plan to fix the US military’s hypoxia problem

The House Armed Services Committee wants to bump up funding to develop technologies that could help the Air Force and Navy mitigate pilot physiological episodes.

By Valerie Insinna

7 years ago