U.S. Navy to conduct Field Carrier Landing Practice at Iwo To

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) – The U.S. Navy announced today it will conduct Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) at Iwo To from 9 - 19 May, each day in order to qualify the pilots of Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW 5) for underway carrier operations. The majority of the training, both day and night, is expected to be conducted at Iwo To.

As is standard practice, in the event inclement weather or other circumstances preclude conducting all the training at Iwo To, the designated backup sites will be:
NAF Misawa
NAF Atsugi
MCAS Iwakuni

This routine training is required to prepare the pilots of the fixed wing aircraft attached to USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) (F/A-18E, F/A-18F, EA-18G, E-2D and C-2A) for operations at sea aboard the carrier. The Navy is aware of the noise concerns of the Japanese people and strives to minimize the impact of its training on the local citizens while balancing our obligation to maintain operational readiness for the defense of Japan and to meet our agreements under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security.