October 24th: "Threat Condition Delta" the highest condition of military alert has been declared in Turkey, Bahrain and Quatar areas. This puts the armed forces on a war footing and was made due to specific threats and where an attack is believed to be imminent.

Osama Bin Laden is believed to be behind the threat and retaliation against him is being discussed.

October 13th: USS Cole (DDG-67) part of the George Washington battle group was attacked by terrorists today at Aden while refuelling. A 30 ft hole was blown in the side of the hull near the engine room and mess deck. 6 crew were killed 11 missing and 35 injured. It is an aegis class destroyer with a crew of 332.

Update: 17 crew were killed in the blast.

October 9th: EDS has been awarded the biggest US Federal Government contract to setup and operate the Navy Marine Corps Internet (NMCI). With options the contract is worth more than $10 billion over 5 years plus 3 option years. It will involve 360,000 seats in ConUS and nearby bases and the fleet. (It should be noted that the editor is a (very happy) employee of EDS)

Welcome to Carrier Aviation News, a regular newsletter that brings you the news around the Carrier Navy now in its 4th year. Want to contribute? then mail me David McCandless and maybe I can publish it here. Thanks to all those who have sent me mail and suggestions.

U.S. Carrier Locations

CVNX-78
Planned start in 2006
$110mill R&D for 1999

CVN-77
Planned start in 2001
$213mill for 1999
Only $50mill appropiated for 1998
$18mill appropiated for R&D 1997, a further $300m may be found in the current budget
Commissioning: 2008

Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)
Future Homeport: NAS North Island
Under Construction
Commissioning: 2002

USS Harry S Truman (CVN-75)
...more
CVW-3 AC Homeport: N.S. Norfolk
2000: Atlantic March 13-20, Norfolk April 10, Atlantic (COMPUTEX)July 26 - September 1, Sint Maartin August 9, Norfolk September 1
Schedule: Med/Gulf Cruise November 28 2000

USS John C Stennis (CVN-74)
CVW-9 NG / CCG 7

...more
2000: Deployed January 5, EastPac January 18, Hong Kong February 8-12, Gulf March 7-13, Bahrain March 20, Gulf April 3, Jebel Ali April 12, May 1, Hobart June 12-16, Pearl Harbour June 27, Homecoming July 3
Schedule:

USS George Washington (CVN-73)
CVW-17 AA
Med/Gulf Cruise 2000
Homeport: N.S. Norfolk
2000: Deployed Med June 21, Gibralta July 4, Antalya, Turkey July 11 - 15, Suez 17, Gulf July 23 - September 5, Port Said September 30, Corfu October 5 - 8, Ionian Sea October 10, off Crete October 14, off Cypres October 20
Schedule: Homecoming December

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)
CVW-14 NK
WestPac Cruise 2000
2000: Deployment August 17, WestPac September 5, Gulf October 2
Milestones: 72000th Trap June 19 1998
Schedule: Sydney September, WestPac Cruise June 2002

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)
CVW-1 AB
Homeport: N.S. Norfolk br> 2000: Overhaul(PIA) January 10 - July 2, Norfolk July 2, Atlantic July 28, October 2,Fort Lauderdale October 5
Schedule:

USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)
CVW-11 NH
...more
Homeport: N.S. Everett
2000: Overhaul November 12 1999 - August 29 2000 ($230m), EastPac August 29 - September 3
Schedule: WestPac cruise July 2001

USS Eisenhower (CVN-69)
CVW-7 AG / CCDG 8
Homeport: N.S. Norfolk

2000: Deployed to Gulf February 18, Adriatic Sea March 6, Trieste March 10, Med March 20-31 (Juniper Stallion March 20-29 off Israel) Souda Bay Crete March 30 - April 3, Med April 12, Haifa, Israel April 14 - 17, Corfu, Greece April 23, Dubrovnic Croatia May 1 -5, Bahrain May31 - June 4, Jebel Ali June 28, relieved July 23, Suez July 28, Lisbon August 4 - 8, Mayport August 16, Homecoming August 18, CVW-7 flew 8,721 sorties this deployment
Awards: June 8, 2000 Battle "E" Atlantic Fleet
Schedule: Homecoming August 18

USS Nimitz (CVN-68)
Schedule: from May 29 1998 Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News(33 months) to February 2001
Milestones: May 9, 2000, Celebrates 25th Anniversary

USS John F Kennedy (CV-67)
CVW-1 AB / CCG 6
2000: New York July 4, Atlantic July 5, Boston July 10-16, Mayport September 10
Schedule:

USS Enterprise (CVN-65)
CVW-8 AJ
Homeport: N.S. Norfolk
2000: Norfolk April 20, Atlantic May 1, NAS Pensacola June 9-13, Atlantic October 2, Fort Lauderdale October 5
Schedule: Med Cruise March 2001

USS Constellation (CV-64)
CVW-2 NE

2000:  North Island April 10, July 7, Seattle August 4 - 7, Pacific October 2, San Francisco October 6
Schedule:

USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)
CVW-5 NF
WestPac Cruise '99
Planned De-commissioning 2008
2000: Yokosuka April 10, Spring Cruise April 11 - July, Guam April 17, Singapore May 6-9, Yokosuka July 7, Pacific October 2

Admiral Kuznetsov
  Malta,'extended trials'

HMS Invincible (R 07)
  1999: Refit Portsmouth October

HMS Illustrious (R 06)
 2000:  Deployed to Gulf January 17, Atlantic January 19

HMS Ark Royal (R08)
 1999:  Rosyth naval base major Refit October

CVF 1 / 2
100 million pounds awarded November 1999