Carrier sails from port for new test

BEIJING - China's aircraft carrier left port on Tuesday for a second round of sea trials, which are likely to include test flights from the refitted vessel.

"Carrier-borne aircraft will possibly take off and land on the vessel for the first time, as these moves cannot be done in dockside tests," said Yin Zhuo, a retired navy rear admiral and military expert.

He said an important component of the trial will be to test the steel cables used to catch the aircraft and decelerate them upon landing. The cables can bring an aircraft from going 300 km/h to a full stop in just a short distance.