Navy Joint and Combined Maritime Training for Helicopter Landing and Takeoff Qualification

24 Helicopters from Army, Air Force, US Forces, Police, and Fire Departments Participate

On the 10th, the Navy announced that it hosted a joint combined training exercise for helicopter landing and takeoff qualifications on the flight deck of the Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship (LPH, 14,500 tons) near Geoje. A total of 24 helicopters participated in the training, including those from the Dokdo-class ship, the Army, Air Force, the US 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-US Combined Division 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, as well as police and fire department helicopters.

The Navy’s “Deck Landing Qualification” (DLQ) refers to the certification that helicopter pilots can safely land and take off on the flight deck of a large transport ship deployed at sea.

The Dokdo-class ship can carry up to 27 helicopters (based on Marine Corps Marinus helicopters) on its flight deck and hangar, and is equipped with medical facilities such as an operating room and wards. It serves not only as a command ship for amphibious maneuver units but also as a disaster response headquarters in the event of maritime disasters.

Since 2011, the Navy has conducted quarterly joint training exercises with the Army and Air Force, and starting from September 2020, expanded participation to include police, fire, and coast guard agencies to strengthen the government-wide maritime disaster response system.

The pilots participating in this training landed and took off in the order designated according to the helicopter entry and exit routes set around the Dokdo-class ship’s flight deck. The 24 helicopters performed over 100 landings and takeoffs in total during the day.

Through this training, Army, Air Force, and US military helicopter pilots acquired the qualifications necessary for landing and takeoff on large transport ships during various aerial operations such as search and rescue and medical evacuation at sea, thereby enhancing their ability to conduct joint combined operations. Additionally, police and fire department helicopter pilots were able to cultivate interoperability based on the helicopter operation system between the Navy and other government agencies in preparation for maritime disaster situations.

Colonel Yoon Hyun-woo, captain of the Dokdo-class ship and training commander, stated, “In maritime disaster situations, the ability of joint and combined forces’ helicopters, including those from various government agencies, to land and take off on ships is essential for rapid on-site response. We will continue to establish a readiness posture capable of completing missions through realistic helicopter landing and takeoff qualification training.”