Because in some cases it made more sense to have a 15 minute transit to your op-area instead of 1.5 hour transit with additional stops at the gas station. The ability to do this depends on a whole host of issues and permissions. I would also offer that it
was the norm for certain CVW squadrons for the better part of five years, but again, specific requirements in specific locations that are difficult to predict/plan to.
To
@jmcquate point about no night traps and nicer quarters... The lack of night traps is a big reason
not to do it. You need your pilots to maintain enough currency to safely get the jets cycled back and forth to the boat, and the "airport" doesn't close down at night. The living quarters... That depends on your perspective. JO's, in many cases, preferred the ship and the minor-luxuries that officers are afforded; the Sailors seemed to much prefer the "beach" because they got rooms with one or two other guys, the food was better, and the overall QOL higher. How you see things depends on where you stand.
The big differences when we do it; 1 - It is an exception to the rule and certainly isn't the norm for us, and 2 - We don't do it with most our air wing.
