{"id":33126,"date":"2019-04-04T18:49:40","date_gmt":"2019-04-04T18:49:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/04\/04\/what-comes-next-for-the-navys-second-oldest-carrier\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:23:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:23:30","slug":"what-comes-next-for-the-navys-second-oldest-carrier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/04\/04\/what-comes-next-for-the-navys-second-oldest-carrier\/","title":{"rendered":"What comes next for the Navy\u2019s second oldest carrier?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NORFOLK \u2014 The aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower<\/a> returned to Norfolk on Monday after five days of sea trials off the Virginia, ready to start prepping for an overseas deployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a prepared statement issued Tuesday, Capt. Kyle Higgins, Ike\u2019s skipper, called the sea trials \u201csuccessful well beyond expectations.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that now the carrier can begin \u201cthe real work\u201d \u2014 certifying the flight deck for launching and recovering aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commissioned in 1977, Ike had been underway since March 28, its first outing after nearly 19 months undergoing maintenance and upgrades in a shipyard here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The crew put the carrier through high-speed turns, launched small boats, tested the catapults and operated the countermeasures wash-down systems on the flight deck and the fire suppression equipment inside the hangar bay, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They also conducted damage control, seamanship and flight deck operations training, officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“These five days made our bridge teams much more proficient and allowed us to carefully evaluate our strengths and weaknesses so we can continue to improve,\u201d said the carrier\u2019s assistant navigator, Lt. Cmdr. Benjamin Sanders, in the release.<\/p>\n\n\n