Pilot's career stalls after criticizing oxygen system

[unhappycamper]

http://hamptonroads.com/2014/04/pilots-career-stalls-after-criticizing-oxygen-system



Joshua Wilson posing in front of a $418,000,000 F-22

Pilot's career stalls after criticizing oxygen system
By Bill Bartel
The Virginian-Pilot
© April 20, 2014

The Air Force has spent tens of millions of dollars over the past two years correcting problems with its premier jet fighter - issues that Capt. Joshua Wilson helped expose by speaking up, both to his bosses and on national television.

Since then, Wilson's career as an F-22 Raptor pilot has stalled. A member of the Virginia Air National Guard's 149th Fighter Squadron, Wilson hasn't been permitted to fly the jet since early 2012. He's fighting disciplinary actions that he sees as retribution for going public.

"I'm a fighter pilot. I worked my entire life to get in the cockpit and to that job," said Wilson, who is 37. "Right now, I'm fighting the Air Force when I should be fighting our enemies."

Almost two years ago, Wilson and Maj. Jeremy Gordon told CBS's "60 Minutes" that the F-22 had a defective oxygen system that was endangering pilots.

[mn9driver]

1. The military rarely rewards whistle blowers.

Jumping the chain of command or going to the press with a problem like this will always have a negative effect on one's career.

Without knowing more about who knew what, and what was being done about it, it's impossible to say whether he could have chosen another way to address the problem that would have saved his career.

[unhappycamper]

2. An F-22 augured in when the pilot lost consciousness.

This particular problem was that F-22 pilots were occasionally blacking out due to onboard oxygen system problems.

[bemildred]

3. The military never willingly rewards whistleblowers.

That is the first military meta-rule, do not rock the boat.