WLS - Military Whistleblower Act: Rep. Kinzinger joins Don & Roma

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By John Dempsey

Is one of the top fighter jets in the U.S. Air Force unsafe? Chicago area Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-Channahon) is giving whistleblower protection to two Air Force pilots who say the F-22 Raptor fighter jet is not safe to fly.

Major Jeremy Gordon and Captain Joshua Wilson made their claim on the CBS program "60 Minutes", Sunday night. Kinzinger appeared with them, and he told "The Don and Roma Show" on WLS that ths one of the top fighter jets in the U.S. Air Force unsafe? Chicago area Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-Channahon) is giving whistleblower protection to two Air Force pilots who say the F-22 Raptor fighter jet is not safe to fly.

Major Jeremy Gordon and Captain Joshua Wilson made their claim on the CBS program "60 Minutes", Sunday night. Kinzinger appeared with them, and he told "The Don and Roma Show" on WLS that the two deserve protection from reprisals:

"It's not easy to tell a Lieutenant Colonel, or a Colonel, or a General, that you're not going to fly because then they come in and threaten you, and take your wings away and the reality is as pilots, this is what we love to do, and this is what they want to do."

Gordon and Wilson say the F-22 Raptor has problems delivering an adequate oxygen supply to pilots. They say the problem can cause pilots to become disoriented.

The Air Force grounded the jet for four months last year after some pilots complained about the problem. However it has since put the F-22 Raptor back into service without disclosing what problems were found.
Kinzinger, who is an Air Force reserve pilot, say he just wants Gordon and Wilson to be able to stand up for safety:
"My goal is provide protection for these guys that are standing up and saying 'we have a serious problem and this could cost somebody else their life.'"
The Military Whistleblower act gives a member of Congress the right to protect military personnel who speak out about problems they observe.e two deserve protection from reprisals:

"It's not easy to tell a Lieutenant Colonel, or a Colonel, or a General, that you're not going to fly because then they come in and threaten you, and take your wings away and the reality is as pilots, this is what we love to do, and this is what they want to do."

Gordon and Wilson say the F-22 Raptor has problems delivering an adequate oxygen supply to pilots. They say the problem can cause pilots to become disoriented.

The Air Force grounded the jet for four months last year after some pilots complained about the problem. However it has since put the F-22 Raptor back into service without disclosing what problems were found.

Kinzinger, who is an Air Force reserve pilot, say he just wants Gordon and Wilson to be able to stand up for safety:

"My goal is provide protection for these guys that are standing up and saying 'we have a serious problem and this could cost somebody else their life.'"
The Military Whistleblower act gives a member of Congress the right to protect military personnel who speak out about problems they observe.

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