TR's Flight Deck Certifications Take Off
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS050126-04
Release Date: 1/26/2005 7:14:00 AM
By Journalist 3rd Class John Cokos, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs
ABOARD USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (NNS) -- USS Theodore Roosevelt (TR) (CVN 71) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 got underway Jan. 12 for flight deck certifications.
Certifications are a necessity for aircraft carriers coming out of dry-docking planned incremental availability (DPIA). Every job, performed by personnel from the hangar bay and flight deck to those in supply and medical, is observed and evaluated.
Embarked aboard TR is the Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Handling Team, Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment Maintenance Program inspectors, and contractors from Carrier Airfield Support Unit, who assist in mechanical maintenance during flight deck certification.
"It's all about the carrier 'certs' right now," said Air Department Leading Chief Petty Officer, Master Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate Curt Dixon. "There are hundreds of people involved, and everything and everyone is observed closely.
"The most important thing is that we have our senior leadership getting people, especially new personnel, trained properly," Dixon said. "Having the right people at the right place ensures safety and success during flight operations."
All but one of the squadrons from CVW-8 are aboard and will have an arsenal of aircraft including F-14 Tomcats, F/A-18 Hornets, F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets, EA-6B Prowlers, E-2C Hawkeyes, S-3B Vikings and SH-60 Seahawk helicopters.
The pilots, like TR crew members, must also maintain certain qualifications. They receive grades from landing signal officers while they perform their required number of daytime and nighttime carrier landings.
"Everything we do here is training for the big picture later on," said Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 15 AV/RAM Division Chief Petty Officer, Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Joey Elliot. "We have a reputation for being in combat. Seven out of eight of our last deployments we dropped bombs on the enemy, so we need this kind of training and qualification to stay ready to go."
"Many of the guys flying haven't landed on a carrier in over six months," said VFA-15 F/A-18 pilot and Landing Signal Officer Lt. Eric Meier. "This training period improves the proficiency of the pilots.
"It's like a competition when we're doing carrier landings," Meier added. "Pilots keep track of their scores and know where they stand with the rest of the pilots. That keeps everyone doing their best."
"There's a countless number of things happening during these certifications and many people working together," said Dixon. "The flight deck is unforgiving, and that old statement about keeping your head on a swivel is true. It's a must."
Once the carrier certification is complete, TR will continue to the next phase needed to prepare for a full-scale deployment.
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