U.S. Navy sailors from the USS Gerald R. Ford pre-commissioning unit have completed the Advanced Arresting Gear operator and maintainer initial training program held at New Jersey-based test facilities.Nineteen sailors graduated during the second round of the six-week training course after 20 sailors completed the training in April and another previous set of crew members underwent a senior leadership training course in August 2015, the Naval Air Systems Command said Friday.
“The intent of the training is to provide students with the most shipboard-representative, hands-on and job-related training possible in order to prepare them for system turnover on board CVN 78,” said Dan Andreoli, AAG training lead.
Christopher Boone, aircraft launch and recovery maintenance chief, added the sailors will be able to work with the system directly as well as with NAVAIR engineers and AAG subject matter experts.
The training consolidates classroom instruction with operation and maintenance laboratory work as well as walk-throughs at the jet car track site and runway arrested landing site and eventually include formal schoolhouse training, NAVAIR said.
AAG, which succeeds the legacy MK -7 arresting gear, uses a rotary hydroelectric system with an additional friction brake system.
