Evanston, IL – July 1, 2020 – The U.S. Air Force has officially started seeking new maternity flight suits for its female employees.
The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center is asking companies to identify themselves if they have the means to make the garments after a request for information solicitation was posted on the government’s acquisition and awards website.
According to the solicitation, the RFI could lead to a contract award in the future, despite the Air Force not actively requesting ideas or proposals at this time. The service does not currently have a formal maternity flight suit.
Vendors wishing to be considered must be capable of producing “400 flight suits to be delivered within 6 months of contract award,” the RFI states. Qualified vendors also must meet certain criteria in the suit’s development and distribution. These criteria include:
- The suits need to be flame resistant.
- It can be a one- or two-piece.
- The company has to ship flight suits directly to pilots and crew members within one week.
Other factors that will be assessed will include moisture wicking, fast drying, breathability, stretchiness, stability, and health toxicity, among other factors, AFLCMC said. Colors must match the current Air Force sage green, and Army and Air Force tan/coyote brown patterns.
Responses and inquiries are due by July 6, 2020.
This announcement comes hot off the heels of the Air Force’s decision to allow female pilots to stay in the cockpit longer while pregnant without need of a medical waiver. This change became directly applied to remotely piloted aircrew, missile operation duty crews, and certain fully-qualified positions without additional restrictions put on their time in service.
According to Capt. Carrie Volpe, all female Air Force pilots were removed from flight duty after they confirmed their pregnancy. This also included drone pilots who work in operations facilities on the ground. These women would have to file extensive paperwork for a waiver just to be allowed duty time between weeks 1 and 34 of pregnancy.
However, pilots are still prohibited from flying in the first trimester of pregnancy, deploying overseas and flying ejection-seat aircraft such as fighter jets.
The service also launched a project in 2019 within AFLCMC focused on gathering female perspectives to develop better-fitting uniforms and gear.
The initiative was prompted by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein’s mission to redesign female uniforms, including gear and flight suits, after many years of ill-fitting equipment.
Earlier this month, the service said it awarded a contract for thousands of sets of body armor specifically designed to fit its female security forces airmen, with the aim of downsizing field gear for those guarding bases worldwide.
The Air Force plans to buy up to 5,600 body armor systems, with deliveries starting this fall.
