U.S. Navy F-35Cs Conduct Operations at Iwo To for the First Time

Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) is essential flight training that pilots must complete to qualify and maintain proficiency before conducting aircraft carrier landings. This training is vital for ensuring combat readiness and supporting regional stability and security throughout the U.S. Indo-Pacific region.

“This training is crucial for Air Wing 5 crews to prepare for deployment at sea,” said Capt. William Fallon, Assistant Chief of Staff for Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan/Navy Region Japan.

“It takes a tremendous amount of dedication and professionalism to master these skills. Operating on a carrier—day or night—is incredibly demanding. Even a large carrier can feel quite small when you're flying in. That’s why realistic training is essential, and Iwo To provides that advantage. It’s extremely dark at night here, closely replicating the carrier environment.”

This routine training is mandatory for all fixed-wing aircraft pilots assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). Aircraft involved in FCLP include the F-35C Lightning II, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, and E-2D Hawkeye.

FCLP also serves as critical practice for Air Wing 5’s Landing Signal Officers (LSOs), often referred to as “paddles.” These naval aviators are specially trained to assist and ensure the safe recovery of aircraft on carrier decks.

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“Today, in particular, the paddles are working with the manually operated visual landing aid system (MOVLAS),” explained Lt. Cmdr. Tory West, an LSO assigned to CVW-5. “Pilots have to react differently to MOVLAS signals, allowing them to safely adjust their landings based on the ship’s movement.”

While Iwo To provides a valuable training environment for fixed-wing pilots and aircrew, it also presents certain limitations. Due to its remote location, maintaining facilities is challenging, and the absence of nearby alternate airfields makes it unsuitable as a permanent site for FCLP. As a result, the U.S. Government retains the option to conduct FCLP at alternate mainland locations when necessary.

“One of the main difficulties of operating from Iwo To is the lack of diversion options in case of an emergency,” said Capt. Fallon. “If bad weather arises or there’s an issue during flight, we don’t have another airfield to redirect to. Having an FCLP site closer to the mainland would offer significantly greater safety margins for both operations and training.”

Air Wing 5 consists of several aircraft squadrons, including the EA-18 Growlers from Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141, the E-2 Hawkeyes from Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 125, MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopters from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 12, F-35 Lightning IIs from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, and F/A-18F and F/A-18E Super Hornets from VFA 102.

In 1973, Air Wing 5 became the United States' first permanently forward-deployed air wing when it was stationed aboard the USS Midway (CV 41), a first-in-class aircraft carrier based in Japan.