Carrier Qualifications Axed From Graduation Requirements For New Navy Fighter Pilots (Updated)
The change in carrier qualification requirements is a huge watershed moment that has ramifications for the Navy's future jet trainer plans.
Joseph Trevithick
Published Aug 28, 2025 12:00 PM EDT
Individuals training to become U.S. Navy tactical jet pilots are no longer required to take off and land from aircraft carriers before being winged as Naval Aviators.
Individuals training to become U.S. Navy tactical jet pilots are no longer required to take off and land from aircraft carriers before being winged as Naval Aviators. This is a huge change in training requirements and has important ramifications for the service’s plans to replace its current carrier-capable T-45 Goshawk jet trainers.
Our colleagues at Task & Purpose first reported the elimination of carrier landing qualifications from the graduation requirements for the Tactical Air (Strike) aviator training pipeline earlier today. This pipeline currently produces new pilots to fly the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-35C fighters, as well as EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft.
“The final strike carrier landing qualification occurred in March of 2025,” a Navy official told Task & Purpose. “Students in the strike pipeline, those training to fly F/A-18s, F-35s, and EA-18Gs, are no longer required to qualify by landing on a carrier prior to graduation.”
https://www.twz.com/air/carrier-qualifications-axed-from-graduation-requirements-for-new-navy-fighter-pilots
