Bataan Certifies for Air Operations

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kelvin Edwards, USS Bataan (LHD 5) Public Affairs

USS BATAAN, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) successfully completed an air certification Sept. 16, proving the ship's ability to safely launch and recover aircraft and support multiple air operations.

The certification focused on the practical application of connecting rotary, tilt, and fixed wing aviation operations, as well as observing and assessing the ship's ability to conduct air traffic control at sea.

The air certification was the final of a three-phase aviation qualification process. Bataan has also passed an aviation readiness qualification (ARQ) and aviation certification (AVCERT). During ARQ, inspectors from Afloat Training Group Mid-Atlantic assessed the crew's aviation training and medical readiness. AVCERT ensured the material readiness of the ship was safe for flight operations.

"I'm extremely pleased with all the hard work," said Capt. Steve Koehler, Bataan's commanding officer, over the ship's general announcing system. "Everyone has done some phenomenal work keeping their heads in the game, and I couldn't be more proud of the whole crew."

The work to attain certification included day and night flight operations with four different types of aircraft on each spot of Bataan's flight deck. The training to get to that point began long ago.

"Growing trained qualified people takes long-range planning," said Cmdr. Dan Olson, Bataan's air boss. He said the ship began preparations for the certification more than a year ago while still deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

The certification will allow Bataan to conduct air operations for the next two years.

"Now that we can launch and recover aircraft safely, we can pretty much do anything," said Lt. Joel Castillo, Bataan's amphibious air traffic control officer. "We have proven that we can conduct operations at any level, any time, in any kind of environment."

The next step toward flexing the ship's multi-mission capabilities will be a well-deck certification scheduled for October. Bataan's training cycle will continue to progress through various training phases until the ship becomes fully certified for deployment.