USS Ronald Reagan (CVN
76) returned to San Diego Oct. 20 following a successful week of
carrier qualifications for Training Squadron (VT) 4 off the coast
of Southern California. Bright orange and white training aircraft
were a familiar sight on the flight deck of the Navy's newest
aircraft carrier as the ship played a vital role in the training of
the next generation of naval aviators.
“Carrier qualifications are just the first stage on the
way to building a carrier aviator,” said Cmdr. James
Hineline, Ronald Reagan’s air boss. “We start with
something simple like these training planes and build to something
more complex.”
Hineline, a former commanding officer of the “Golden
Eagles” from VT-22 based out of Naval Air Station Kingsville,
Texas, said he understands firsthand the importance of this week of
events.
“The students go out to the ships to do aircraft carrier
qualifications about once every six weeks,” explained
Hineline. “They usually do the training a total of eight
times a year. That goes along with all the other land-based
training and classroom work they have to do.”
Hineline said that most of the student pilots will ultimately
become carrier aviators. But for that to become a reality, they
must first undergo an intensive training regimen.
“Carrier qualifications are the last line in their student
training,” said Hineline. “So, it’s either
qualify or don’t qualify.”
Hineline added that the pilots will be taking a lot away from
this week.
“Whether it's good experiences or bad, it has been a
learning experience, and they will all be able to improve on their
mistakes during their next round of carrier qualifications,”
he said.
Student aviators said they looked forward to the opportunity to
land on an aircraft carrier for the first time.
“I was pretty excited when I took off from base,”
said Lt. j.g. Frank Parisi. “Once I got up in the air I was
fine, until I saw the carrier. That’s when I started to get
nervous again."
As training continued throughout the week, the student aviators
said they were able to get over the initial anxiety of landing on
an aircraft carrier and concentrate on improving their skills.
“It builds your confidence a lot,” said Parisi.
“There’s really no training that we can do on land that
will ultimately prepare us for this. We just have to go out there
and do it.”
Hineline said he can still remember the first time that he
landed on an aircraft carrier more than 20 years ago.
“I remember the first time that I made a touch-and-go on
the flight deck of an aircraft carrier,” said Hineline.
“It was like ‘holy smoke,’ I just landed on an
aircraft carrier. It was a very exciting experience and something I
will never forget.”
Comissioned in 2003, Ronald Reagan is the Navy's newest
Nimitz-class nuclear powered aircraft carrier. [ANN Salutes Mass
Communication Specialist 3rd Class Annie Turner, USS Ronald Reagan
Public Affairs]