USS Nimitz, the oldest aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy, just completed a key landing-systems certification at sea, even though it is scheduled to retire in March 2027. So why is the Navy still putting it to work?
The answer comes down to a federal law requiring 11 aircraft carriers and a delay on the ship meant to replace it, USS John F. Kennedy. In this video we break down what happened during Nimitz's first time at sea since moving to Norfolk, Virginia, how the Precision Approach Landing Systems and the Carrier Air Traffic Control Center keep pilots safe at night and in bad weather, and what comes next for the ship before it is decommissioned.
– What the Navy certified on USS Nimitz in October 2026
– How automatic carrier landing systems work
– What the Carrier Air Traffic Control Center does
– Why the 11-carrier law and the Kennedy delay extended Nimitz's service
– What happens to Nimitz after decommissioning
Source: The Navy Channel
