Q&A ยท 2:35:51-2:37:02

How navies qualify carrier pilots without a deck-capable trainer

Land practice and qualification in the operational aircraft provide a route to carrier flying without deck landings in a dedicated trainer.

Question

How do other navies train carrier pilots when a new jet trainer is not required to make deck landings?

Short answer

Pilots can practise carrier approaches on land and then make their qualification landings in the operational aircraft.

Notes

Pilots can practise on a land runway configured to resemble a carrier before making qualification landings in their operational aircraft. The account is given from recollection rather than as a detailed comparison of each navy's syllabus. Most European carrier aviation is described as using the F-35B, with France and China also discussed. Early F-35B deck landings are said to tend too far forward because pilots worry about the carrier moving ahead beneath them.