Air Force re-pressurizes U-2 cabin to prevent brain lesions in pilots

The Air Force has re-pressurized the U-2 spy plane’s cabin after a study revealed U-2 pilots had brain lesions at a higher than average rate, officials said.

The re-pressurization was completed in June along with other cockpit modifications, such as reinforcing frames, bulkheads and the canopy, said Lt. Col. Tadd Sholtis, a spokesman for Air Combat Command.

Over the past decade, the higher ops tempo for the U-2 has coincided with an increase in the number of pilots suffering from neurologic decompression sickness, also known as “the bends,” Sholtis said.

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