China’s Fujian carrier shows signs of heavier fighter jet training | News World

Images are doing the rounds of what appear to be aircraft tire marks on the flight deck of China’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian. According to analysts, the marks seem to indicate ‘touch-and-go’ landings and do not suggest its advanced catapult system has been tested.

The Fujian recently completed its latest round of sea trials, and the tire marks demonstrate the carrier underwent intensive aircraft takeoff and landings this time. ‘Touch-and-go’ landings involve a plane touching down on the flight deck and immediately taking off again.

Pilots in training commonly practice this maneuver, which also involves circling the plane in a defined pattern and repeating it several times. Practicing this is a vital part of a pilot’s preparation for active duty and is intended to give them skills to safely abort a landing if they run out of space.

The United…