Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 and the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) completed its carrier qualifications (CQ), May 23.
CQ allows CVW 5 pilots and George Washington’s flight deck crew to prove accuracy and proficiency in successfully landing and recovering aircraft.
According to Lt. Eric Alexander, flight deck officer aboard George Washington, being a part of forward-deployed naval forces include having high expectations for the crew to always be trained and well prepared to operate at sea even during the ship’s six-month maintenance period.
Behind-the-scenes training and planning allowed George Washington to successfully perform approximately 100 arrested landings on the very first day of CQ.
George Washington and its embarked air wing, CVW-5, are on patrol in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. George Washington will conduct a hull-swap with the Ronald Reagan later this year after serving seven years as the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier in Yokosuka, Japan.
Image: US Navy