The launch signal is given only after the catapult
has reached FINAL READY and the pilot of the
aircraft indicates he or she is ready. The catapult officer
ensures that the pilot’s head is back against the headrest,
checks that the deck is clear forward, and then executes
the FIRE signal. Upon receiving the FIRE signal, the
deckedge operator makes a final check of the flight
deck and catwalks. If they are clear, he or she depresses
the FIRE push button.
CAUTION
The deckedge operator must not anticipate
the fire signal; if any discrepancy in aircraft
hookup is noted or if the deck and catwalks are
not clear, he or she must NOT fire but must
suspend and notify the catapult officer of the
discrepancy.
The firing sequence is identical to the no-load
sequence previously discussed and will not be repeated
here.
Suspend Procedures. —If for any reason the
catapult officer finds it necessary to give the
SUSPENSION signal, it is executed as follows:
The catapult officer crosses his or her arms high
overhead, indicating that the launch is off. The
deckedge operator immediately actuates the SUSPEN-
SION switch, then relays this information by phone to
the console operator, and holds his or her arms in the
same crossed position as the catapult officer.
After the SUSPENSION signal, proceed as follows:
WARNING
When the SUSPENSION signal is given,
the pilot must remain ready to be launched and
must not cut throttle until so directed by the
catapult officer.
The catapult officer immediately gives the signal to
untension the aircraft on the catapult by pointing one
hand in the opposite direction of the launch.
The deckedge operator immediately presses the
MANEUVER AFT button to release bridle tension.
Following untensioning of the aircraft, the catapult
officer signals the pilot to throttle back as follows:
The catapult officer holds one fist at waist
height with thumb extended upward. With the
other hand, he or she rocks the thumb and arm
backward as if it were a throttle handle. The
catapult is now secured, and the cause of the
suspension must be determined before putting
the catapult back into operation.
Hangfire Procedures. —In the event the catapult
does not fire within 10 seconds after the FIRE button is
pressed, a hangfire exists. In this case the catapult
officer gives the following signals in succession:
1. SUSPENSION
2. HANGFIRE
3. UNTENSION AIRCRAFT
NOTE
The catapult officer signals HANGFIRE to
the deckedge operator by pointing the index
finger of one hand at the palm of his or her
other hand.
The deckedge control panel operator, observing
these signals, actuates the SUSPEND switch and
immediately calls the main-control-console operator and
says “Close the emergency cutout valve; close the
emergency cutout valve.” The main-control-console
operator immediately actuates the catapult suspension
switch, and then removes the cotter pin, unscrews the
stop screw, and rotates the handle of the launching-
valve cutout valve to the EMERGENCY position. He or
she then presses the MANEUVER SHUTTLE AFT
push button for 15 seconds to release tension. If the
hangfire was caused by an electrical power failure, the
main control console operator, after rotating the
launching valve cutout valve to the EMERGENCY
position, calls the retraction-engine operator to inform
him or her of a power failure. The retraction-engine
operator depresses the MANUAL OVERRIDE push
button on the maneuver shuttle aft valve, to manually
maneuver the shuttle aft.
WARNING
The main-control-console operator must
not rotate the launching valve cutout valve
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