Exercises Modernization

Combat Eagles Hone Their Wings Between Sea and Sky! A Naval Aviation Regiment Conducts Flight Training

战鹰砺翅海天间！海军航空兵某团开展飞行训练

PLA Daily (解放军报) 10 May 2026

Summary

A PLA Naval Aviation regiment based at an unspecified southern airfield conducted multi-subject helicopter flight training over a maritime area, including ship deck landings with hot-seat crew exchanges, search-and-rescue hoisting operations, and night recovery, coordinated with a surface vessel providing targeting coordinates and deck crew support. The training integrates shipboard landing proficiency, combat search-and-rescue, and sustained tempo across a full operational day, reflecting continued PLA Navy emphasis on naval aviation interoperability with surface combatants. The article is a routine propaganda piece with no named units, officials, or locations, and contains no new information beyond confirming that this category of training is ongoing.

Translation

Combat Eagles Hone Their Wings Between Sea and Sky

— A Glimpse of Flight Training at a Naval Aviation Regiment

■ Reported and photographed by Wang Huangfei, Pei Ziqi, and Lin Junming

Flying to the training sea area.

A signalman guides a combat aircraft to land on the vessel.

A rescue swimmer carries a "casualty" back to the cabin.

A pilot (far right) preparing to board the aircraft to take over training.

As the morning sun rose, iron wings spun through the air. At an airfield in the south, several helicopters of a Naval Aviation regiment stood in formation, ready for departure.

A green signal flare split the morning sky. The aircraft spiraled upward, formed into a formation, and flew to the target sea area to conduct multi-subject flight training.

During the flight, the formation received coordinate information transmitted by a vessel. "Establish the landing approach, adjust attitude!" Upon receiving the order, one crew immediately locked onto the target vessel. On the warship's deck, signalmen, lashing personnel, damage control team members, and others had already taken their positions. Under the precise guidance of the signalman, the helicopter rapidly established a glide path and slowly approached from the side of the vessel. The pilot held his breath and concentrated, continuously adjusting the aircraft's attitude, and seized the moment to descend decisively. With a thud, the landing gear touched the vessel, and the aircraft landed steadily on the takeoff and landing platform.

Deck support personnel moved forward immediately and, while the aircraft remained running, conducted inspections and refueled. At the same time, the pilot who had completed the ship-landing training subject disconnected the flight control system and quickly evacuated. The pilot taking over the training swiftly boarded and took position. "Release lashings!" The signalman issued the flag signal once more. The aircraft lifted off and transitioned to subsequent training subjects.

At midday, under a blazing sun, the roar of engines again rang out from the airfield as another crew conducted search-and-rescue training on the field. The helicopter hovered at low altitude; rescue swimmers, carrying medical and rescue equipment, rapidly exited the cabin and rappelled down smoothly. After successfully securing the "casualty," the rescue swimmer raised his right hand in an ascent signal. The winch activated, and the rescue team worked in seamless coordination to hoist the "casualty" steadily into the cabin.

Departing at dawn to meet the morning glow, returning at night under stars and moon. At midnight, after completing all training subjects, the aircraft returned safely. Inside the hangar, lights blazed brightly as maintenance officers and soldiers, with meticulous care, conducted thorough inspections and maintenance on the aircraft, making preparations for the following day's training.

Original Chinese

战鹰砺翅海天间 ——海军航空兵某团飞行训练掠影 ■汪黄飞裴梓淇林骏铭摄影报道飞赴训练海域。引导员引导战机着舰。搜救员营救“伤员”返回机舱。接替训练的飞行员（右一）准备登机。旭日初升，铁翼飞旋。南国某机场，海军航空兵某团数架直升机列阵待发。绿色信号弹划破晨空，战机盘旋升空，组成编队飞赴目标海域上空开展多课目飞行训练。飞行途中，编队收到某舰发来的坐标信息。“建立着舰航线，调整姿态！”接到指令，某机组迅即锁定目标舰船。战舰甲板上，信号员、系留人员、损管队员等早已部署就位。在引导员精准引导下，直升机快速建立下滑线，从舰船侧面缓慢抵近。飞行员凝神屏息，不断调整战机姿态，把握时机果断下降。“嘭！”起落架触舰，战机稳稳降落在起降平台。甲板保障人员迅速上前，在战机保持不停车状态下，开展检查、补给燃油。与此同时，完成着舰课目训练的飞行员，断开飞控系统，快速撤离。接替训练的飞行员则迅疾登机就位。“解除系留！”引导员再次发出旗语指示。战机腾空而起，转入后续课目训练。正午，艳阳高照。机场再度传出轰鸣声，另一机组在本场展开搜救训练。直升机低空悬停，搜救员携带救护装具快速出舱、平稳索降。在成功固定“伤员”后，搜救员右手做出上升手势。绞车启动，救援组默契协同，将“伤员”平稳吊运到机舱。朝迎霞光起航，夜伴星月归来。子夜，完成所有训练课目后，战机安全返航。机库内灯火通明，机务官兵一丝不苟，对战机进行细致检查维护，为次日训练做好准备。