Non-Subscriber Extract
Israel halts F-16I training flights after formaldehyde scare
By Alon Ben-David
27 March 2008
The Israel Air Force (IAF) halted all training flights on its 75-aircraft fleet of F-16I 'Soufa' multirole fighters on 21 March after a carcinogenic substance was found in the cockpit of some of the aircraft.
Following continual complaints from several aircrews of a strong odour in the cockpit during the flight, causing sore eyes and throat, the IAF hired a commercial company to examine the air inside the cockpits of several F-16Is.
The tests found traces of formaldehyde - a substance known to be carcinogenic in high concentration - in the crew compartment but the aircraft will continue to be used in other operations as investigations continue.
"Although the substance was found in a hazardous concentration level in only one aircraft, I decided to cease training flights of the whole fleet until the matter is fully examined," IAF Commander in Chief Major General Eliezer Shkedi told Jane's.
"Lockheed Martin extends all its resources to assist the IAF in investigating the matter," a Lockheed Martin spokesperson told Jane's.
"Lockheed Martin has never received similar complaints from any other F-16 customer."