Navy resumes flight operations for some T-45 aircraft
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The Chief of Naval Air Training resumed flight operations of the T-45C Goshawk aircraft on October 31, 2022.
The Navy and Marine Corps T-45C fleet has been on a safety break since Oct. 14 following the discovery of an engine blade failure. Engineering analysis revealed that a subassembly of T-45C engine blades did not meet the manufacturer’s engine specifications; these planes remain grounded. T-45Cs that have resumed flight contain engines that meet these specifications.
“The return to operations process is based on NAVAIR’s technical analysis, with the most important decision being the safety of our Airmen,” said CNATRA Rear Admiral Richard Brophy. “The planes we fly are checked and found to be good. We have the utmost confidence in the compliance of these aircraft. »
Flight operations for the rest of the T-45C fleet will remain on hiatus as the Navy and industry partner Rolls Royce continue to evaluate engineering data on nonconforming parts and work to turn over other T-45C in operational condition. Meanwhile, air training wings and squadrons maximize ground training, including classroom instruction, simulators, and computer-based training.
The T-45C is a tandem-seat jet trainer whose mission is to train Navy and Marine Corps pilots.
“We sincerely thank the NAVAIR team for their hard work and commitment to finding the best possible solution for the long-term safety of our Airmen and aircraft. While the reintroduction of the T-45C fleet will be a phased approach, “It is not a process that will be rushed. It is critical that our maintenance partners thoroughly analyze and diagnose this issue so that training operations can fully resume with the safety of each of our Airmen as the top priority,” said said Brophy.
“The safety of our student airmen and instructors is paramount,” said Rear Admiral John Lemmon, program manager for Tactical Aircraft Programs (PEO(T)). “Our Navy teams and our industry partner are diligently and thoroughly analyzing all facets of this issue to determine a safe and expeditious path for the rest of the T-45 fleet to return to flight.”
