|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Go
|
New
|
Find
|
Notify
|
Tools
|
Reply
|
|
Basic Training |
So I visited this website http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/ships/carriers/rainbow.html and checked out the different colors that are on the flight deck, and I have this question.
I in DEP right now and will be an ABH. My question is this because I am a little confused about the yellow jackets. Since it says that they are aircraft handling officers, catapult and arresting gear officers and plane directors. Basically, are the aircraft handling and catapult and arresting gear officers actual commisioned officers or is that just the title of the job? I want to know this because I want to get an idea of what colors I will be more then likely wearing. |
||
|
Basic Training |
Yes, those are real officers, "usually" you'll be able to tell them apart from other canary's because they wear khaki pants with the yellow vest (and they have their title stenciled on the back of the vest like "CAT Officer").
Most of them are experienced aviators doing a tour as CAT officer or whatever. Don't worry, you'll learn in short order who's who on the flight deck |
|||
|
|
Basic Training |
Thanks for the quick reply Echofixer. I figured they were actual officers, and I know I will more then likely learn quick on who is who on the flight deck/hangars. Again thanks for the quick reply.
|
|||
|
Basic Training |
Pretty much when you start out on the flight deck you'll be a blue shirt chocking and chaining until you become a yellow shirt under instruction until you get your qualifications done. Just take it all in stride and get your quals as fast as you can.
|
|||
|
|
Basic Training |
Thanks for your reply. So when I get the yellow shirt, I would then be a plane director correct? Since the others are officers? |
|||
|
|
Basic Training |
When you get all of your qualifications you'll be a yellow shirt which are aircraft handlers. They run everything on the flight deck and do all of the taxing on the "roof" and in the hanger bay.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: flying2275, |
|||
|
|
Basic Training |
OK make it thru bootcamp and then school first. Barring you do nothing stupid you will choose orders. THen for the next like , year year and a half you will be a blue shirt. You will hate it. It should give you motivation to become a yellow shirt. Once done you will be moving aircraft on the ship. You will be arguing with Ordnance all the time. Get ready, its a long haul kid. Good luck in the Lakes.
|
|||
|
Member |
As a brand new ABH aboard a carrier, you will start as a blue shirt, carrying chocks and chains, wing walking aircraft and tying them down in their parking spots. Then you move up to training to become an aircraft director--yellow shirt working in what's called a FLY. FLY One is the flight deck area from the bow down to the crotch (which is at the top of the angle deck. FLY Two is the area amidships from the crotch down to the area in front of the number four arresting gear (or thereabouts). FLY Three is the aft area from the stern up through the arresting gear to in front of the four wire (or so). Each FLY belongs to a senior petty officer, who is a yellow shirt, aircraft director. When you vie to become a yellow shirt yourself, you will be assigned to one of them who will hawk your every move and train you to do what they do. It is an extremely fast-paced environment, particularly when it is time to launch the cycle of aircraft which could be 20 to 22 aircraft or more. Aircraft are unchained and un-chocked (we call it "broken down") and taxi, under direction, handed off from one FLY up to the next until it reaches the catapults (that could be the waist catapults amidships--CATS 3 and 4) or CATS 1 and 2 on the bow in FLY One. The overall boss on the Flight Deck is the Flight Deck Officer who may be a Lieutenant or Lieutenant Commander. He is accompanied by the Flight Deck Chief who may be a Master Chief or Senior Chief Petty Officer. When I was out there, I was with my Master Chief. The Yellow shirt leadership out on deck know the line-up, i.e. which aircraft they want taxiied when and where and to which catapults and they choreograph the entire show. A FLY Director MUST pay attention to them and have the aircraft in their area ready to taxi when they want them to roll. The Air Boss in the Tower is in charge of it all on the flight deck and answers directly to the carrier CO, who is sitting there watching every move as well. It is NOT a job for the un-motivated or inattentive or those who are unable to think fast and think on their feet. Aircraft taxi with their wings only inches from other aircraft and there are even moments when they overlap. Tailpipes are everywhere, pointing in every direction. Inadvertently walk behind one and plan on going for a swim after a 50 foot, unexpected dive. Pilots are trained to follow the yellow shirt's directions almost exclusively except when an obvious emergency appears imminent. At night, he's following your wands just about exclusively. It is a hazardous, dangerous environment, particularly at night. It can also be trememdously rewarding. I've seen yellow shirts perform magic with exceptional talent and skill. They are extremely proud of what they do and they should be. They do not let anyone, everyone join their ranks. You will have to work hard and earn it.
|
|||
|
This is why we can't have nice things... |
And learn to be a good loser!!!  But, we take care of each other on the beach!  IYAOYAS!!!  HAHA Good times for all AO1 |
|||
|
|
Basic Training |
I really appreciate the perfectly descripted post.. Thanks alot. |
|||
|
|
Leave request approved GerryRM3 |
Amen brother. Without AO'S you are just a sunday driver. IYAOYAS. AO2c |
|||
|
|
Member |
That's so, but with out good Mechs and Metalsmiths you're NOT going anywhere, period!!!
|
|||
|
|
Leave request approved GerryRM3 |
And you sir are correct. You people kept them in the air, we gave them a purpose.
|
|||
|
|
Member |
And the radar controllers tell pilots where to go.
|
|||
|
|
Member |
It took all of us to get that bird up and going, to do what had to be done. I had many an AO main the hoists helping drop and install A-6 engines, along with installing 300 gallon drop tanks. I humped many a bomb and spent my turn with the yellow bar putting 500 pound up into the MERs. It was a team effort all the way.
I remember our birdswoul come in, taxii to fly Three, we'd chain the plane down, the crew would exit the plane, engines running, the mechs and metalsmiths would check the plane and hook up the fueling hose. If there were bombs and ordnance to hang, those not helping with the turnaround, would load bombs. The new crew would come up, look the bird over climb up get in and get ready to launch. It ALWAYS gave me an immense sense of satisfaction and pride when that plane went off the bow. Ah, those were days and you were more alive than you ever were! Sound a bit trite guys? I don'think so. |
|||
|
Basic Training |
It surprises me that nobody asked what the various hand signals meant by the yellow and green shirts.
 Jim |
|||
|
Basic Training |
What ever happened to the plane captain turning the plane over to a handler? The plane captain is responsible for the chains and the wing locks and making sure all the flight surfaces are working properly and the plane is set for launch!
 |
|||
|
|
Member |
Red, I've been out of the loop for almost twenty years, but when I worked the deck the aircraft was turned over to the yellow shirt when the a/c was ready. That being after the point checks were done and the bird checked for leaks of any kind. The P/C signed the yellow shirt giving him the thumbs up. The yellow shirt then told the P/C and troubleshooters to standby or sent in the blue shirts to unchain and unchock the aircraft. The chains were given to the P/Cs and they went back out of the way. The maintenance troubleshooters accompanied the a/c to the cat or waiting area. There the wings were unfolded and locked, checked by the T/Ss. One Troubleshooter went to the hot box between the cats to give the shooter the thumbs up when the pilot accelerated to military and cycled the controls.
I would imagine its still done close to that way with some changes allowing for two decades......... |
|||
|
Basic Training |
Pope's got it right. As a troubleshooter I had to go from startup to the cat to do my final checks........I sure do miss those days.
|
|||
|
|
Member |
I'd better have it right! All the times I spent on deck as a Troubleshooter/Plane Captain/Troubleshooter/Safety PO/ Powerplants QAR! The miles I've got on my feet from those nonskid and armor plated flight decks. (Connie, Independence and Ranger)I miss it too guy! Every plane I ever worked on or helped work on filled me with pride when she went thundering off that deck! To me watching that made it all worthwhile!
|
|||
|
| Previous Topic | Next Topic | powered by eve community |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
|||
| Site | Military.com Forums | ||
| Servlet | eve1da047 | ||
| Version | 1.2.22 build 9062 | ||
| Module | Forums 4.0.3 | ||
| Stylesheet | "Navy Discussions" | ||
| Wordlet Set | "Default Wordlet Set" | ||
|
