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Congressman Gaetz Comments on Training Flights at NAS Pensacola

April 5, 2017

WASHINGTON, DC – On Friday, March 31, 2017, military training flights at Naval Air Station Pensacola were canceled due to pilots' concerns about equipment malfunctions. Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL-01) issued the following statement in response:

"Pilots in the United States military should never have to worry about oxygen supply while training or in combat. As a member of the Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, I will be traveling to Naval Air Station Pensacola next week to meet with command staff, flight instructors and pilots to fully assess potential malfunctions to aircraft oxygenators following the cancellation of training flights on Friday. Initial reports indicate potential problems with the T-45, F-18 and F-22 aircraft oxygen systems. The consequences of under-funding and over-stretching our military continue to be felt in Northwest Florida. This is why I am fighting in Congress to significantly increase military spending. We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to military readiness and training funding failures. Our nation, our brave men and women in uniform, and their families deserve nothing less than our total commitment to their well-being."

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