USS Theodore Roosevelt Aircraft Carrier Completes Its 250,000th Trap Landing

David Cenciotti
5 Min Read
An F/A-18F Super Hornet, attached to the “Black Knights” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154, lands on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Feb. 28, 2024. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Aaron Haro Gonzalez)

An F/A-18F Super Hornet of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 set the accomplishment with a successful trap landing during routine operations in the South China Sea.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, achieved a significant milestone on Mar. 19, 2024, by completing its 250,000th successful arrested landing (or “trap landing“) during routine operations in the South China Sea.

Commander Brandon Miller, operations officer of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, marked this achievement by landing an F/A-18F Super Hornet on the carrier’s flight deck.

Miller emphasized the global significance of reaching this milestone, stating that it demonstrated the Navy’s ability to operate effectively and continuously anywhere and anytime. He credited the longevity and resilience of the carrier, commissioned in 1986, highlighting the crew’s dedication and the high-performance capabilities of the arresting gear that handles the extreme demands of flight operations.

Theodore Roosevelt’s commanding officer, Captain Brian Schrum, praised the Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment (ALRE) team for their outstanding maintenance work on the carrier, despite the ship’s nearly 38-year history of “blue water ops”.

An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to the “Flying Checkmates” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 211, approaches the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), March 1, 2024. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adina Phebus)

Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) Mark Jolly, ALRE’s leading chief petty officer, commended his crew for their dedication and hard work in maintaining the arresting gear, calling them one of the toughest crews he has seen.

To celebrate this achievement, Captain Schrum and Rear Admiral Christopher Alexander, commander of Carrier Strike Group Nine, joined the ALRE team and crew for a celebratory event with cake and words of congratulations before resuming operations.

According to the U.S. Navy, the 250,000th arrested landing is a testament to the professionalism, dedication, and teamwork of the crew aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt, showcasing their ability to maintain operational excellence even after decades of service.

USS Theodore Roosevelt

Named after President Theodore Roosevelt, USS Theodore Roosevelt was commissioned on October 25, 1986, and has since played a key role in numerous military operations and exercises around the world.

The Nimitz-class carriers, including the USS Theodore Roosevelt, represent a cornerstone of U.S. naval power projection. These carriers are designed to be highly versatile and capable of supporting a wide range of missions, from air superiority and strike operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts. The Nimitz-class carriers are equipped with advanced aircraft launch and recovery systems, extensive logistics capabilities, and state-of-the-art command and control facilities.

USS Theodore Roosevelt is the fourth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier to be built:

  1. USS Nimitz (CVN 68): The lead ship of the Nimitz class, USS Nimitz was commissioned in 1975. It was the first of its kind and set the standard for subsequent carriers in the class. USS Nimitz has been involved in numerous operations and has undergone several upgrades over its service life.
  2. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69): Commissioned in 1977, USS Eisenhower is named after President Dwight D. Eisenhower. It has participated in various combat operations and exercises, demonstrating its role as a key asset in U.S. naval power projection.
  3. USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70): Named after Congressman Carl Vinson, USS Carl Vinson was commissioned in 1982. It has been involved in operations ranging from combat deployments to humanitarian missions, showcasing the flexibility and capability of Nimitz-class carriers.

Interestingly, in April 2021, USS Nimitz was the first U.S. Navy carrier to reach 350,000 successful trap landings [BTW, this Author has had the honor to be aboard a C-2 during one of those landings], while operating in the South China Sea. At that time, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower was the next highest total of arrested landings at 326,600.

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David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.
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