[bamacisa]

I was watching a feature on the Military Channel about aircraft carriers. When the carrier returned to Norfork, while still at sea, all the aircraft left the carrier and landed at a land airfield. When the carrier left to go back to sea, all the aircraft left the land base, flew out to sea, and landed back on the aircraft carrier. Is this standard procedure? What is the reason for this?

[Chesafreak]

Yes, that's normal ops. Fixed-wing aircraft can't take off or land while the ship is in port. There has to be a minimum airspeed across the flight deck to lauch a jet, so the carrier has to be moving. Also safety would prevent them from conducting anything other than helo flight ops in port as well.

I worked on H-60 helicopters for more than half of my career. Our helos were the only aircraft that could take off and land while the ship is in port.

[John43]

The crews want to get to their families. Aircraft squadrons are not part of the ships crew and go back for maintenance.

[bac1023]

I'd say wrong forum...

[denn1911]

Originally Posted by bac1023

I'd say wrong forum...

How'd the OP make that mistake? Haha.

[ca survivor]

Originally Posted by bac1023

I'd say wrong forum...

any way.

[rhikdavis]

All I know is that the chow lines were alot shorter after the air wing was offloaded.

[oily_oink]

Anyways From Michigan!

[Chesafreak]

Originally Posted by rhikdavis

All I know is that the chow lines were alot shorter after the air wing was offloaded.

Living on a carrier is why to this day I despise wasting time waiting in line. I avoid visiting the bank, and when getting a haircut I wont wait more than 5 to 10 minutes. This after waiting in line for chow for almost an hour at times on a carrier, and way too long for anything else.

First world problems, right?

[rdpG19]

The aircraft are part of the Air Wing which is land based, their only on the carrier when it is at sea, all you mentioned is normal operating procedures. I was with Fighter Squadron 102 out of NAS Oceana, Va., 3 med cruses on the USS Independance CVA62.
It was actually quite an experience. Go Navy!

[olddep041]

My wife and I had the great pleasure of being on a Tiger Cruise on the Abe Lincoln last year. My daughter was assigned to a FA 18 Super Hornet Squadron at the time (Intel Officer).
Note: when Navy ships are returning from deployment (persain Gulf in this case), family members of the crew can board the ship at a port on the way back to th ship's home port.
We met the Lincoln in Hawaii and sailed back to San Deigo.
What a blast that was.
Anyway, the squadrons all left the day before we docked in San Deigo.

[Merlin40]

Originally Posted by Chesafreak

Living on a carrier is why to this day I despise wasting time waiting in line. I avoid visiting the bank, and when getting a haircut I wont wait more than 5 to 10 minutes. This after waiting in line for chow for almost an hour at times on a carrier, and way too long for anything else.

First world problems, right?

I was assigned to both the USS Enterprise, and the USS Ranger during my 20+ years in the US Navy. On both carriers, they had a "speed line" or "express line" in which you could get "fast food" i.e. Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Fries, and like that. In addition, the chow hall was open 24/7 for the pilots. Anyone could use it. BTW, I requested both of these carriers. My first command was a 390-foot Destroyer. I'll take a Carrier ANY day!. If any of you have ever been in a typhoon out there, you know what I'm talking about.

[Batesmotel]

My dad was on the Philippine Sea CV-47. They made her CVA-47 at the end of Korea and she carried planes back to San Francisco. The hanger deck and flight deck were packed with planes including a USAF bomber. Everything had to be off loaded by crane. It took weeks. He was one of the last men off at the end of the war.