The US Navy has implemented a temporary ‘safety pause’ on the T-45C Goshawk advanced trainer aircraft fleet due to issues in the aircraft’s engine blade.
Announced by the Naval Air Systems Command, the operational halt was directed by the chief of naval air training (CNATRA) on 14 October.
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The T-45 two-seat advanced aircraft is operated by the US Navy and US Marine Corps trainee pilots.
CNATRA rear admiral Richard Brophy said: “Out of an abundance of caution and concern for the safety of our aviators, CNATRA made the decision to halt all T-45C Goshawk operations following the discovery of an engine blade failure.
“We are working with our partners toward a swift resolution.
“Safety is at the core of our operations, and we must not expose our pilots or aircraft to unnecessary risk.”
Earlier in August this year, the CNATRA released a statement confirming that a US Navy’s T-45 trainer jet crashed near Naval Air Station (NAS) Kingsville in Texas, US.
The crashed jet was assigned under Training Air Wing 2 from NAS Kingsville.
The T-45 fleet was also temporarily grounded in 2017 over cockpit contamination concerns raised by pilots.
Tactical Aircraft Programmes programme executive officer rear admiral John Lemmon said: “The Naval Undergraduate Flight Training Systems Programme Office, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Chief of Naval Air Training and Fleet Support Team have been working around the clock with industry partner Rolls Royce to identify the root cause of the recent T-45 engine blade failure.
“Engineering analysis has been underway and will continue until we can safely return the T-45 fleet to a flying status to support CNATRA’s training.”
