(May 4, 2010) An EA-6B Prowler assigned to the Patriots of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 140 launches from the waist catapult of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Dwight D. Eisenhower is deployed as a part of the on-going rotation of forward-deployed forces to support maritime security operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Chad R. Erdmann/Released)
Yeah, he's reading something.
No, I don't what.
Not being a carrier guy myself, I pose the question to those who are - is this not a potential FOD hazard - not the sailor, but the thing he's reading?
Must be exciting reading, though.
Click on the photo to make it bigger.
Uhhh... launching checklist?
ReplyDeleteJust a wild guess as I'm not a carrier guy either, but I do know that the cat's have specific settings for each aircraft type. There's a big grey box in front of him. I could indeed be a checklist. If it's important, I would assume that it's tethered.
ReplyDeleteAs for FOD, I was kind of surprised at all the "stuff" on the deck just aft of his position...
Yeah, looks like a manual of some kind.
ReplyDeleteGranted, it's just on fraction of a second in time, but I'm just shocked that he isn't even glancing up.
Im pretty sure it's a chart of weight and steam pressures.
ReplyDeleteI am a former flight deck rat. I worked on reconn systems on F-14s. He's part of the catapult crew. The thing in his lap is not a book, it's a control panel that helps set the cats to the right steam pressure for each airplane.
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