Landing without light

US Navy pilots regularly have to renew their qualification to land on an aircraft carrier. A visit to one of the largest warships in the world.

On the morning of 13 December 2022, the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN leaves Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego and moves to the Pacific off the Mexican coast near Baja California. It is unusually empty on board. Normally, the aircraft carrier is packed with 65 to 70 jets. But for the following week, it is going on a special voyage. The so-called Fleet Replacement Squadron Carrier Qualification is on the agenda. 20 aviators, as the pilots are known in the Navy, want to pass their carrier landing qualification test.