Ford Welcomes Carrier Air Wing 8 Hits 4,000th Launch and Recovery
Navy’s Most Advanced Carrier Steams Ahead
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SS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) completed independent steaming event (ISE) 12 on Oct. 2 and is now more than halfway through her Post-Delivery Test and Trials (PDT&T) phase of operations. Ford completed many major PDT&T milestones designed to exercise installed systems and conduct crew training including: qualifying 19 pilots assigned to the “Gladiators” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106 and 21 pilots assigned to the “Greyhawks” of Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 120. VAW-120 also completed their first carrier qualifications with the aerial refueling variant of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye. Ford also conducted many “firsts” and training evolutions, including the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department’s full run to afterburner of an F/A-18 jet engine using Jet Engine Test Instrumentation; the Combat Systems Department’s preaction aim calibration fire on one of three close-in weapons system mounts; and the Operations Department’s completion of an Air Intercept Control (AIC) event on July 30.
Air Intercept Control Mission Training
AIC missions provided the opportunity to demonstrate integration with CSG-12 as part of the air defense mission 24
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting carrier qualifications. Naval Aircrewman (Tactical Helicopter) 2nd Class Casey Shanahana, assigned to the “Spartans” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70, participates in deck landing qualifications.
U.S. Navy photo by MCSN Riley McDowell
Editor’s Note: As summer transitioned into fall, the Navy’s latest and most advanced aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), continued to reach milestones on its way to deployment, including completing its 11th independent steaming event (ISE); officially welcoming its Carrier Strike Group, CSG-12; and reaching its 4,000th launch and recovery with its state-of the-art systems in the Atlantic Ocean. Ford is currently underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting ISE 13 of 18, as part of the ship’s PostDelivery Test and Trials (PDT&T) phase, scheduled to continue through mid-2021.
U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Ruben Reed
Compiled by Rob Perry
to defend Ford and the rest of the force and are required to increase the Combat Direction Center’s proficiency through training. Lt. Shane Welsh, the air defense officer for the Ticonderogaclass cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) training with Ford’s operations team, said the mission was a collaborative effort between Ford and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 and CVW-8. “The Ford is considered an air defense unit (ADU),” Welsh said. “The Air and Missile Defense Commander (AMDC) assigned Ford the mission to control defensive counter-air assets. If we had other ADUs in the area, the AMDC would coordinate with them and would report information to the battle watch in the Tactical Flag Command Center.” Ford’s Air Intercept Controller, Operations Specialist 1st Class David Geary, controlled two separate AIC events. Both were defensive counter-air missions designed to protect a Naval Aviation News
