dangerous. You should always be aware of the
following SE hazards.
! Smoking or having an open flame around or
near aircraft and fueling equipment is strictly
prohibited.
! Never operate support equipment that you are
not licensed and qualified to operate.
! High voltage can zap you and aircraft electric
systems without warning.
! High pressure air or hydraulics can blow up
hoses,
equipment,
aircraft
systems,
or
personnel.
! Contamination, (water, dirt, grease, oil, trash,
FOD) when introduced to the wrong system,
can ruin an aircraft, support equipment, or
injure personnel.
! Unfamiliar controls on support equipment can
cause you to go in directions you didn't intend.
! Cables and hoses hooked up to aircraft
incorrectly or when they shouldn't be.
! Avoid breathing fuel vapors and noxious gases
that can make you sick or kill you.
! Defective, nonstandard, or jury-rigged hoses,
cables, plugs, and devices that can kill you or
damage an aircraft.
! Avoid loud noises by wearing appropriate
hearing protection.
! Driver's seats that restrict visibility can cause
you to run over people, equipment, or aircraft.
! Crankcases and radiators ruin an engine when
they run dry.
! Jacks or work stands that collapse because of
neglect or improper use can spoil your day.
COLOR MARKINGS OF EQUIPMENT
All handling and servicing equipment used around
aircraft have standard colors and markings. This is
necessary so that the equipment and markings can be
seen easily by pilots taking off, landing, or taxiing in
aircraft, or by tower operators. These colors and
markings identify the equipment as being authorized
for use around aircraft on flight decks, hanger bays,
parking ramps, taxiways, and runways. Most support
equipment (SE) is painted yellow and/or white with
reflective tape strips on the corners. The front and rear
bumpers are painted with alternate black and yellow
stripes at a 45-degree angle. Danger areas, such as
intakes/exhaust and front/rear pintels for attaching tow
bars, are painted red.
Q10-1. What is the maximum aircraft towing speed?
Q10-2. What color is support equipment painted?
AIR OPERATIONS ABOARD A
CARRIER
LEARNING
OBJECTIVE:
Recognize
aircraft handling activities to include signaling,
spotting, launching, landing, securing, and
general safety precautions on board aircraft
carriers (CVs/CVNs).
The combined efforts of officers and crewmen are
necessary to conduct effective air operations on an
aircraft carrier. There are those who have prepared the
plans, briefed the pilots, plotted the weather, and fueled
and armed the aircraft. There are others who assist in
launching and landing the aircraft. After the aircraft
have returned, there are still others who check the
results,
debrief
with
the
pilots,
interpret
the
photographic findings, and refuel and rearm in
preparation for the next flight. The efficient and
coordinated efforts of all persons concerned are of vital
importance to the success of the operation.
As part of this team, personnel whose duties
require them to work on the flight deck must wear the
proper flight deck uniform. All personnel must wear a
cranial impact helmet with liner, goggles, and sound
attenuators (fig. 10-1). Personnel who work on the
flight deck must also wear long sleeve jerseys and
trousers, flight deck shoes, an inflatable life preserver
outfitted with distress light marker, sea dye marker, and
a secured whistle (fig. 10-2). All personnel assigned
flight quarters stations on or above the hangar deck
level must wear this uniform as described in table 10-1.
Notice
the
different
colors
identifying
different
assignments or jobs.
PLANE-HANDLING CREWS
The V-1 division is responsible for handling
aircraft on the flight deck, and the V-3 division is
charged with this responsibility for the hangar deck.
The personnel, other than plane directors, assigned to
handling crews are usually Airmen from these
divisions.
A complete handling crew normally consists of a
director, crew leader, one safety man, and six to ten
Airmen. The director is usually an ABH, and is the only
10-2
