PATUXENT RIVER NAVAL AIR STATION, MD – Communities surrounding the naval air station are advised that noise-generating testing events are scheduled to take place Aug. 22 – Aug. 25, 2016 between the hours of 6 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Pilots at NAS PAX will be conducting Field Carrier Landing Practices (FCLPs). FCLPs are simulated carrier landings conducted to prepare the pilot to land safely on an aircraft carrier. The practices consist of series of touch-and-go maneuvers called “bounces.”
Airspeed, altitude and power are all precisely choreographed in order for a pilot to approach the ship within an acceptable window to land on the deck safely. FCLP training is critical for Navy pilots to learn to safely conduct landing patterns in as realistic conditions as possible, which includes night time operations.
Night FCLPs simulate landing on an aircraft carrier at night when sufficient darkness is necessary. Since the sun does not set until after 8:30 p.m. during the summer months, night operations require late operating hours.
Sometimes this means flying until 11 p.m. or later. FCLP training is essential for the precision and safety of our military men and women and the success of their mission. Landing on an aircraft carrier is perhaps the most difficult task in military aviation.
It is a highly complex skill, and requires an intense period of training before pilots deploy.
Residents may notice increased noise levels due to these operations. As with all operations, NAS Patuxent River takes precautions to lessen the impact of testing activities on the community. For more information call 1-866-819-9028.