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Altitude restrictions have also been
incrementally removed for F-22s that have
received the ABOS modification. Altitude
restrictions for training flights remain for
non-ABOS equipped F-22 aircraft; however, those
restrictions will be removed as each aircraft is
modified.
The return to normal flight operations hinged on
completing eight near-term actions identified by
the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board,
successful fielding of the modified Combat Edge
upper pressure garment valve and fielding of the
automatic backup oxygen system. All actions
identified by the SAB were completed in December
2012. Fielding of the modified Combat Edge upper
pressure garment valve and related pieces was
completed in January.
The fielding of the ABOS provides additional
protection to F-22 pilots while flying at high
altitudes and in the most demanding
oxygen-delivery scenarios. The first combat
aircraft was modified in January at Nellis AFB,
Nev. Elmendorf-assigned Raptors began
modifications in February and officials expect
combat fleet completion by July 2014.
In May 2011, Air Force officials stood-down the
F-22 fleet for four months. This operational
pause enabled the Air Force to accelerate
efforts to study, define and fix the cause of
the reported incidents. After the SAB completed
its investigative actions in January 2012, the
F-22 Life Support Systems Task Force formed a
multiservice, multiagency team of government,
industry and academic experts to review previous
recommendations and findings. This increased
breadth of experience, enhanced scope of
knowledge, and additional impartial expert
analysis led to the conclusion that a lack of
oxygen quantity was causing the physiological
incidents. The task force also determined the
quality of oxygen was not causing the
physiological symptoms reported by F-22 pilots
and ground crew.
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