USS Gerald Ford
CVW 8 Commander Capt. Joshua Sager said in a news release that “it’s great to share this moment in history with Ford. Integration between the air wing and ship’s company is crucial to the everyday success of carrier operations. Completion of the 1,000th catapult and arrestment shows that the ship and her crew have tested and proven the newest technology the Navy has, and together we are ready to meet the operational requirements of our nation.”
According to the news release, the scenarios the carrier and pilots were asked to perform were meant to mirror some of the most challenging situations they may face during real operations abroad. In one, aircraft were stacked up behind the carrier in two-mile increments, the usual landing pattern for at-sea operations, requiring Ford to trap aircraft just 55 seconds apart.
