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Scramble 467
are Columbus AFB (MS), Laughlin AFB (TX), Sheppard AFB
(TX) and Vance AFB (OK). The new T-X trainer will provide
student pilots with the skills and competencies required to
transition into 4th and 5th generation fighter aircraft.
After almost a month, the USAF resumed flying its Beechcraft
T-6A Texan-II training aircraft on 27 February 2018. Officially
it was announced at the end of January, that the commander
of the 19th Air Force had ordered an operational pause and
suspended all solo flights in T-6 Texan-II trainer aircraft,
both for students and instructor pilots, over concerns about
hypoxia and other so-called Unexplained Physiological Events
(UPE). During the last week of January some 13 different UPE
events occurred at three different T-6A bases. Some 444
Texan-IIs attached to the following units from USAF’s Air
Education and Training Command (AETC) were affected: 12th
FTW at Joint Base San Antonio/ Randolph AFB (TX), 14th FTW
at Columbus AFB (MS), 47th FTW at Laughlin AFB (TX), 71st
FTW at Vance AFB (OK) and 80th FTW at Sheppard AFB (TX).
Although the final root cause has not yet been determined,
the USAF deems it is save enough to fly the Texan-II. The
USAF established a general officer-led team to integrate and
coordinate efforts across the Air Force to address aircrew
UPE awareness in early 2018. During November 2017, the 71st
FTW at Vance AFB (OK) grounded all Texan-IIs after five pilots
in four different flights experienced hypoxia-like symptoms.
Also, at the beginning of June 2017, the 56th Fighter Wing at
Luke AFB (AZ) paused F-35A flight operations, after having
five incidents with pilots that experienced symptoms similar
to hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation.
At the end of February 2018, US President Donald Trump, had
again, personally intervened in the negotiations with Boeing
to modify two new 747-8 airliners, N894BA and N895BA,
that are intended to serve as the USAF’s new Air Force
One duo aircraft. For now, it remains to be uncertain if the
President’s promise of USD 1 billion in savings (of the once
USD 4 billion deal) will be realized. The USAF wants a fixed-
price deal about the many modifications that are required on
the existing aircraft, meaning Boeing would absorb any cost
overruns. It has been stated that Boeing is less keen on that
idea. Details about the USAF’s procurement of the Boeing
747s are expected in the coming months.
Related to the Boeing news comes the fact that on 14
March 2018, the second-highest ranking civilian official
in the Department of the USAF, undersecretary Matthew
Donovan visited the Boeing KC-46A Pegasus production
and modification plant in Everett (WA). This, after the
latest announcement of a further delay of the first aircraft
delivery to the USAF. It is now expected that Boeing will
not deliver the first KC-46A tanker until late 2018. Although
at the end of 2017, the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) granted Boeing an amended type certification for the
tanker derivative of the 767-2C, the company still has not
obtained a crucial supplemental type certification for all the
military and aerial refueling chapters that turn the Boeing
767-2C into a KC-46A. With dozens already completed, or
nearing completion with Boeing, it is anticipated that once
the first batch is delivered to the first active duty Wing,
being the 22ndARW at McConnell AFB (KS), the Pegasus
will immediately bring enhanced capabilities and increased
operational effectiveness to the USAF’s tanker fleet.
The last weeks of February 2018, and the first weeks of March,
Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany was the scene for other
USAF F-16s, besides the homebased SP coded ones. Until the
end of February, three SW coded F-16s from the 20th FW,
based at Shaw AFB (SC), were flying with the local 52nd FW
residents. The Fighting Falcons were formerly assigned to
the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing in support of Operation
Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS)/ Operation Resolute Support (ORS).Meanwhile in the Atlantic, on board of USS Harry S. Truman, MH-60R 168110/AB-705 of HSM-72 was photographed. (13 March 2018, MCS 3rd
Class Kaysee Lohmann/USN)