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215,000 Traps and Ike is Still Counting

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050511-22
Release Date: 5/11/2005 5:32:00 PM

By Photographer's Mate Airman Christopher Molinari, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Public Affairs

USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (NNS) -- USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike) (CVN 69) reached a significant milestone in her long and storied history May 4, trapping her 215,000th aircraft since the ship's commissioning in 1977.

The historic landing comes after completing a comprehensive four-year Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH) in March.

“This is a major milestone for an aircraft carrier to reach 215,000 traps,” said Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) (AW) Frederick Hardy, leading chief petty officer of air department’s V-2 arresting gear division.

“It’s a real morale builder for these guys because we are up 17 to 18 hours a day underway, and recognition is good,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 2nd Class Luisito Castro, petty officer in charge of arresting gear engine one.

Sailors from Ike’s V-2 Division were especially thrilled to be a part of the occasion. During the RCOH, Sailors from Ike’s V-2 Division put the arresting gear engines back together. The ship has come a long way since then.

“A group of young Sailors have brought the arresting gear engines from scratch and taken them to where they are now,” said Hardy. “[Carriers] usually average [6,000] to 8,000 arrests during a deployment,” he added.

With those averages, Ike has been a busy carrier over the years.

Maintaining the arresting gear engines and cables on an aircraft carrier is no small task.

“Sailors from V-2 stand 14 to 15 hours a day of watch, then three to four hours of maintenance,” said Hardy.

The Sailors from V-2 are diligently working morning and night to make sure the arresting gear engines are maintained to the highest degree. With their capable hands, Ike is primed for another 215,000 traps.