T-45C instructors conduct quals

ATLANTIC OCEAN - Instructors from Training Air Wings 1 and 2 - at NAS Kingsville and Meridian respectively - concluded Carrier Qualifications Sept. 16-17 flying T-45C Goshawks aboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). The evolution allowed shipboard sailors to practice launching and recovering aircraft while preparing instructors, and instructors-under-training, to teach the Navy's newest pilots. "This is the instructors' initial carrier qualification in the T-45 as an instructor," said Lt. Cmdr. Ronnie Dale Stahl Jr., a landing signal officer in charge of safety during carrier “quals” for the Navy. The requalification process involved some 28 instructors from four squadrons: VT-7 and VT-9 from NAS Meridian; and VT-21 and VT-22 NAS Kingsville, Texas. Over two days they combined to complete 112 traps and 56 "touch-and-goes" from the carrier. (Source: USS Truman 09/18/17) T-45s from Kingsville and Meridian; and NAS Pensacola, Fla., had cockpit oxygen issues back in April 2017 that forced to standdown of all T-45 training at the three bases. The Navy has continued to seek resolutions, but allowed T-45 training to resume in July.