It’s a big ‘Go’ for the F-35 at the Paris Air Show

Despite being grounded indefinitely by the U.S. Air Force after pilots complained of oxygen deprivation, the F-35A has officially received a “Go” and will make its debut appearance at an international air show on Monday.

Two F-35As, built by Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, arrived in France for the Paris Air Show the day after the Air Force extended an earlier decision to ground the planes at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. The air show is a premier event where aviation companies and military contractors from around the world showcase their wares.

The F-35As from Hill Air Force Base in Utah got the official “GO!” to fly last week, said Mark Johnson, a Lockheed spokesman in Fort Worth.

The 56th Fighter Wing at Luke cancelled operations for the F35A after five incidents in which pilots experienced hypoxia-like symptoms, a condition in which the body is deprived of oxygen. In each incident, the F-35’s backup oxygen system operated as designed. Only F-35s based at Luke were grounded.

Initially, the order to stand down was to last only a few days, but the Air Force later extended the cease operations order indefinitely while a team of engineers and aeromedical specialists continued to investigate and narrow down potential causes, Defense News reported.

Lockheed Martin has not commented on the hypoxia situation and is referring all questions to the Air Force.

The Air Force did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

This story was originally published June 16, 2017 at 10:14 AM with the headline "It’s a big ‘Go’ for the F-35 at the Paris Air Show."