Community Corner

Bel Air Navy Pilot Serves At Sea

A Bel Air woman was part of a crew conducting an operation in the Atlantic Ocean aboard a "supercarrier" this month.

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U.S. Navy pilot Katie Gallagher performs pre-flight maintenance.
U.S. Navy pilot Katie Gallagher performs pre-flight maintenance. (Rebekah M. Rinckey/U.S. Navy)

BEL AIR, MD — A Bel Air woman serving the U.S. Navy was recently training aboard an aircraft carrier in the Atlantic Ocean.

U.S. Navy Lt. Junior Grade Katie Gallagher was pictured conducting pre-flight checks on an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter Dec. 8.

The helicopter is aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis, described by the Navy as a "nuclear-powered supercarrier."

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Officials say the ship is conducting routine operations in support of Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic. In the past week, the crew was working on carrier qualifications. This process involves Navy pilots logging flight hours and practicing things like takeoffs and landings at sea.

The aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis is conducting routine operations in support of Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Rebekah M. Rinckey/U.S. Navy.
Photo of this A T-45C Goshawk training aircraft landing aboard the USS John C. Stennis was taken by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Grant G. Grady/U.S. Navy.
U.S. Sailors observe a T-45C Goshawk training aircraft conduct a touch-and-go landing on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joshua L. Leonard/U.S. Navy.

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