PENSACOLA — Naval Air Station Whiting Field added a chapter to its history of supporting Naval aviation training May 9, when the Joint Strike Fighter began operations at the installation’s Navy Outlying Landing Field, or NOLF, Choctaw.
NOLF Choctaw had been closed to flight operations the past nine months to enable runway improvements to the airfield. The construction project placed arresting gear at the facility to provide the safety features required for fleet carrier landing practices. Pilots who will be attached to carrier-based squadrons must practice such landings on shore before deploying on the ship. This makes NOLF Choctaw one of three East Coast outlying fields with such a capability — and the closest to the F-35 Navy variant aircraft-based at Eglin Air Force Base.
NOLF Choctaw’s increased safety capability now supports requirements of the F-35 aircraft from Strike Fighter Squadron 101 (VFA-101) and Training Air Wing FIVE T-6B Texan II training aircraft. NOLF Choctaw is one of 12 outlying landing fields managed by NAS Whiting Field, and one of five outlying landing fields that support the T-6B aircraft. Others are NOLFs Barin, Evergreen, Brewton and Summerdale.
VFA-101 was reactivated and established as its current designation May 1, 2012 to serve as the Fleet Replacement Squadron, or FRS, for F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. The re-designation included a homeport change from NAS Oceana, Va., to Eglin.
As an FRS, VFA-101 trains and qualifies F-35C aircrew and maintenance professionals to operate safely and effectively as part of a Carrier Air Strike Group at sea.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: NAS Whiting Field resumes flight operations at NOLF Choctaw