Wednesday 19 June 2013

First Royal Navy Sailor Qualifies to move Aircraft – the first British Royal Navy. Chief Petty Officer (Stacy Gager) has qualified as an Aircraft Director on a US Aircraft Carrier USS EISENHOWER after being put through an intense training programme, an is now trained to coordinate a continual stream of aircraft moving around the carrier as they prepare to fly or come into land on the deck.    A further three sailors are undergoing training onboard the Wasp Class Amphibious Assault Ship USS KEARSARGE, where they work with HARRIERs (well the US Marine Corps’ AV-8B variant) whilst of the USS EISENHOWER they are dealing with SUPER HORNET, HAWKEYE early-warning aircraft, PROWLER electronic warfare aircraft as well as GREYHOUND twin-prop transports and well as SEAHAWK helicopters.   The idea of course being that the Royal Navy sailors to regain specialist operational aircraft handling skills before being deployed to the QUEEN ELIZABETH Class Aircraft Carriers which are under construction.    Some (around) 300 personnel are expected to be trained by the end of the decade, including RAF personnel.

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