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Stennis Conducts Fleet Replacement Squadron Flight Qualifications

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060717-10
Release Date: 7/17/2006 3:26:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Chris Fowler, USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs

USS JOHN C. STENNIS, At Sea (NNS) -- USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) conducted fleet replacement squadron carrier qualifications (FRSCQ) in July to train pilots how to safely operate in, and around, an aircraft carrier at sea.

The acting FRS commander was Cmdr. Gary Wilson, commanding officer of Sea Control Squadron (VS) 41.

According to Wilson, FRSCQ is a critical step required for a pilot to be certified ready to operate from an aircraft carrier. During FRSCQ, seasoned pilots returning to flight status after completing a disassociated tour become reacquainted with flying, and pilots newly emerging from the training pipeline learn for the first time how to properly operate in and around an aircraft carrier.

“For many of these pilots, this is the initial qualification in their first fleet aircraft,” said the Lake City, Pa., native. “In addition to flight simulator time, most of these guys have already completed approximately 120 to 150 carrier-landing practices back at their home fields, but this is the their first exposure to a real aircraft carrier at sea.”

Helping the novice pilots, or "nuggets," onto the ever-shifting flight deck are some of the most experienced landing signal officers (LSO) in the Navy. According to Lt. Cmdr. Matt Arnold, a Commander, Naval Air Forces landing signal officer, a pilot will progress from FRS squadrons to fleet squadrons as his experience and proficiencies develop. Conversely, an LSO will transition from a fleet squadron to FRS as his experience and proficiency develops. The net effect of this relationship is to pair the most experienced LSOs with the least experienced pilots.

“You take a pilot who has never done this before,” said Wilson, an Ohio State University graduate, “and in six weeks, he is landing on an aircraft carrier at night. It’s amazing how quickly these pilots are able to negotiate such a steep learning curve.”

Scheduled to last about one week, pilots must successfully complete a graded set of daytime and nighttime arrested landings. Afterward, many will transition to their first fleet squadron assignments.

Squadrons participating in this week’s FRSCQ include Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122), VFA-125, Marine Strike Fighter Training Squadron (VMFAT) 101, Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 and VS-41. Additionally, Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 117 is embarked, along with Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron (HS) 8.

For related news, visit the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cvn74/.