T-38s Grounded Indefinetly
Posted: 02 May 2008, 04:23
T-38C trainers grounded after fatal crashes
By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday May 1, 2008 20:51:26 EDT
In the wake of the second fatal crash in nine days, Air Education and Training Command has grounded its fleet of about 500 T-38C Talon training jets.
AETC also has declared Monday, May 5, as a safety day. The command will fly no training sorties that day, regardless of the aircraft model.
The decision by the commander of AETC, Gen. William Looney, to ground the T-38Cs came hours after two pilots died when their Talon crashed May 1 at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, home of the 80th Flying Training Wing.
The Talon had gone for five years without a fatal crash until April 23 when a T-38C crashed on takeoff from Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., killing Maj. Blair Faulkner, 43rd Flying Training Squadron instructor pilot, and 2nd Lt. Matthew Emmons, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training class 08-14.
"We have no evidence that these incidents are related," said Looney. "But until we have a more complete understanding of the causes of both accidents, it's prudent to stand down the T-38's."
Maj. Irving Halter, who oversees AETC’s flight training as commander of the 19th Air Force, declared the safety day.
As of press time on May 1, the names of the two airmen killed My 1 hadn’t been released by the Air Force.
The Air Force has used the T-38 to train fighter pilots since 1961, and upgraded the jet several times. The causes of both crashes are under investigation.
According to Air Force Safety Center figures, since the Oct. 1 start of fiscal 2008, AETC has had five major aircraft accidents that resulted in a death or $1 million-plus in damage, the most of any Air Force major command this year.
The other three were:
* Nov. 28 — Two T-6A Texans from Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., collided over Mississippi. All four pilots safely ejected. An accident report faulted both crews.
* March 14 — An F-16 pilot died when his Luke jet crashed while on a training flight in Arizona. The investigation continues.
* April 2 — An F-16 from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., landed gear up at Gila Bend Auxiliary Air Field, Ariz. The pilot survived and the accident remains under investigation.
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/ ... 38_050108/
By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday May 1, 2008 20:51:26 EDT
In the wake of the second fatal crash in nine days, Air Education and Training Command has grounded its fleet of about 500 T-38C Talon training jets.
AETC also has declared Monday, May 5, as a safety day. The command will fly no training sorties that day, regardless of the aircraft model.
The decision by the commander of AETC, Gen. William Looney, to ground the T-38Cs came hours after two pilots died when their Talon crashed May 1 at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, home of the 80th Flying Training Wing.
The Talon had gone for five years without a fatal crash until April 23 when a T-38C crashed on takeoff from Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., killing Maj. Blair Faulkner, 43rd Flying Training Squadron instructor pilot, and 2nd Lt. Matthew Emmons, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training class 08-14.
"We have no evidence that these incidents are related," said Looney. "But until we have a more complete understanding of the causes of both accidents, it's prudent to stand down the T-38's."
Maj. Irving Halter, who oversees AETC’s flight training as commander of the 19th Air Force, declared the safety day.
As of press time on May 1, the names of the two airmen killed My 1 hadn’t been released by the Air Force.
The Air Force has used the T-38 to train fighter pilots since 1961, and upgraded the jet several times. The causes of both crashes are under investigation.
According to Air Force Safety Center figures, since the Oct. 1 start of fiscal 2008, AETC has had five major aircraft accidents that resulted in a death or $1 million-plus in damage, the most of any Air Force major command this year.
The other three were:
* Nov. 28 — Two T-6A Texans from Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., collided over Mississippi. All four pilots safely ejected. An accident report faulted both crews.
* March 14 — An F-16 pilot died when his Luke jet crashed while on a training flight in Arizona. The investigation continues.
* April 2 — An F-16 from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., landed gear up at Gila Bend Auxiliary Air Field, Ariz. The pilot survived and the accident remains under investigation.
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/ ... 38_050108/