The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) conducted a series of carrier deck qualifications with T-45C Goshawk training aircraft in the Atlantic Ocean.
The activities took place between June 27 and 30, 2026, and were organized jointly with the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA), the command responsible for training future U.S. naval aviators.
During the training, students practiced approaches, landings, catapult launches, and aircraft recovery procedures aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. Images released by the Navy show a T-45C approaching the ship’s flight deck on June 27.
Training qualified 24 aviators
Over the three days of operations, 428 arrested landings using arresting cables and 143 touch-and-go procedures were recorded, in which the aircraft touches the deck and takes off again without coming to a complete stop.
According to CNATRA, 24 aviators completed the qualification. The group consisted of 15 students assigned to the E-2 Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft pipeline, seven foreign military personnel, and two pilots from the strike aircraft pipeline.
Carrier qualification is one of the most important stages in the training of pilots assigned to carrier-based aviation. The exercise requires precise aircraft control, situational awareness, and mastery of the procedures needed to operate on a short, moving runway.
Students must also coordinate their actions with air traffic controllers, landing signal officers, and teams responsible for the catapults, arresting cables, refueling, and aircraft movement on the deck.
T-45C prepares pilots for operational aircraft
The T-45C Goshawk is a two-seat training jet developed for aircraft carrier operations. The aircraft is used during the intermediate and advanced stages of pilot training for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
Based on the British BAE Systems Hawk, the aircraft features a digital cockpit and systems that help students transition to more advanced operational aircraft. The T-45C is also equipped with an arresting hook and a reinforced structure designed to withstand catapult launches and arrested landings.
Training on the Goshawk is primarily intended for pilots assigned to platforms such as the F/A-18 Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, F-35 Lightning II, and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye. For students selected for the E-2 pipeline, the curriculum concludes with qualification in the T-45C before they continue their operational training.
Aircraft carrier serves as a training platform
In addition to preparing new pilots, the activity allows the crew of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower to maintain proficiency in flight operations. The ship provides all the necessary infrastructure, including air traffic control, catapults, arresting systems, and specialized flight deck teams.
CNATRA oversees five training wings and 17 training squadrons based in Florida, Mississippi, and Texas. The command trains pilots and naval flight officers from the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and allied nations.
The participation of foreign students in the training also seeks to strengthen interoperability between the United States and partner navies that use similar naval aviation doctrines.
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Source and image: U.S. Navy | Chief of Naval Air Training. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
