According to a Pacific Air Forces press release, senior U.S. Air Force officials say the fleet of grounded F-22 Raptor fighter jets is set to resume flying after a four-month stand-down.
"We now have enough insight from recent studies and investigations that a return to flight is prudent and appropriate," U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said in a statement on the Air Force website. "We're managing the risks with our aircrews, and we're continuing to study the F-22's oxygen systems and collect data."
More then four months ago, the fleet was grounded after 12 reports that pilots experienced hypoxia-like symptoms. Among the reports was a crash last November outside Denali National Park, that killed Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson based pilot Capt. Jeffrey Haney. The cause of that crash has not been released.
The stand-down lasted 140 days. F-22 pilots must fly every 210 days to remain proficient or need to repeat their or entire training process. F-22 pilots, who fly up to 50,000 feet, will use additional protective equipment and undergo baseline physiological tests. The return-to-fly process will begin with instructor pilots and flight leaders regaining their necessary proficiency first. Other F-22 wingmen will follow.
An Air Force report on oxygen generation in the cockpit is due out later this year. F-22 Raptors entered service in 2005.