The F-16 Fighting Falcon is one of the aircraft being considered by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) for its Multi-Role Fighter (MRF) Program (https://www.janes.com/article/93332/philippines-evaluating-gripen-and-f-16v-for-mrf-programme-defence-secretary-confirms), but one disadvantage with it is its use of the highly toxic and flammable chemical called Hydrazine on its Emergency Power Unit (EPU).
It is one of the few aircraft that uses the chemical. Exposure to Hydrazine can cause damage to the Liver and Kidneys, and can cause Cancer. It can even lead to death if the exposure is high enough.
In fairness, out of all the thousands of F-16 aircraft in use in the world today, I can’t find any incident of deaths in the internet related to the F-16’s Hydrazine.
It is one of the few aircraft that uses the chemical. Exposure to Hydrazine can cause damage to the Liver and Kidneys, and can cause Cancer. It can even lead to death if the exposure is high enough.
In fairness, out of all the thousands of F-16 aircraft in use in the world today, I can’t find any incident of deaths in the internet related to the F-16’s Hydrazine.
However, there has been several accidents involving it like the one with the F-16 Ground Crew of the Israeli Air Force in 2011 when four were accidentally exposed to the Chemical, with one subsequently Hospitalized due to high levels Liver and Muscle Enzymes. The Personnel eventually recovered and was released from the Hospital.
Another incident happened in 2016 when 6 United States Air National Guard (USANG) Personnel for the F-16 were accidentally exposed to Hydrazine and had to be sent to the Hospital for checkup as a precaution.
Since it is a toxic chemical, it needs special Procedures, Training and Equipment for the Crews handling the F-16. And this particularly becomes a big issue during crashes since it will require units to institute Quarantine and Decontamination Protocols to contain any Hydrazine leak.
An F-16 crash in Belgium in an Urban area last year (2019) resulted in two Houses being evacuated for about a month as the Soil contaminated by Hydrazine needed to be treated first before removal and replacement with non-contaminated soil.
SOURCES:
* Vintage Air Force Video explains F-16 Fighting Falcon’s EPU Hydrazine Hazards
* Elevated CPK Levels after Hydrazine inhalation exposure in an F16 Aircraft Technician
* F-16 Chemical Leak sends 6 Airmen to Hospital
* Hydrazine: A significant Hazard each time an F-16 Crashes (or fires up the Emergency Power Unit)
* Crash d'un F-16 Belge en France: Les Militaires ont «tout fait pour éviter les Zones Habitées»
Check out my Links: https://linktr.ee/rhk111
* Vintage Air Force Video explains F-16 Fighting Falcon’s EPU Hydrazine Hazards
* Elevated CPK Levels after Hydrazine inhalation exposure in an F16 Aircraft Technician
* F-16 Chemical Leak sends 6 Airmen to Hospital
* Hydrazine: A significant Hazard each time an F-16 Crashes (or fires up the Emergency Power Unit)
* Crash d'un F-16 Belge en France: Les Militaires ont «tout fait pour éviter les Zones Habitées»
Check out my Links: https://linktr.ee/rhk111
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