{"id":37990,"date":"2018-09-14T15:35:26","date_gmt":"2018-09-14T15:35:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/09\/14\/t-6-hypoxia-problem-solved-air-force-announces\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:09:48","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:09:48","slug":"t-6-hypoxia-problem-solved-air-force-announces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/2018\/09\/14\/t-6-hypoxia-problem-solved-air-force-announces\/","title":{"rendered":"T-6 hypoxia problem solved, Air Force announces"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The rash of hypoxia-like problems<\/a> in the Air Force\u2019s fleet of T-6 Texan II trainers<\/a> was primarily caused by fluctuating concentrations of oxygen in the cockpit, the service said Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Air Education and Training Command said in a release that the Air Force will start putting a series of fixes in place to correct the problems. These fixes will include redesigning the oxygen system in the T-6, adjusting oxygen levels in flight, and increasing maintenance on the On-Board Oxygen Generating System<\/a>, or OBOGS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A six-month study conducted by AETC and Air Force Materiel Command, uncovered the problem with varying oxygen concentration levels, which AETC described as the \u201cmajor factor in unexplained physiological events\u201d affecting T-6 pilots, AETC said. Experts from the Navy and NASA also assisted with the study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo far, technical efforts to date and analysis of data collected have determined that pilots have been exposed to significantly changing levels of oxygen concentration,\u201d AETC Commander Lt. Gen. Steve Kwast said in the release. \u201cThe varying levels of oxygen concentration, even though in excess of what the body typically needs, has caused physiological stress that most pilots, on most days, actually adapt to without noticing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While most pilots may adapt, some develop symptoms similar to hypoxia, or lack of oxygen, or hypocapnia, a lack of carbon dioxide, as a result, AETC said. This can cause problems such as shortness of breath, dizziness or disorientation in pilots, and even cause them to lose consciousness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a July 23 interview with Air Force Times, Kwast said that fluctuating oxygen proportions in the air was one issue the board had discovered, though he stressed at the time it was too soon to say whether it was causing or contributing to the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo the question is, what does that do to the human body, when you have a fluctuation of oxygen?\u201d Kwast said in July. \u201cThat\u2019s the kind of work they\u2019re doing as they discover something that is a little … different than we thought.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t