Landing signal officer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Landing Signal Officers (LSOs) are naval aviators specially trained to control the approach and landings of airplanes aboard aircraft carriers.
In the U.S. Navy, carrier operations began with USS Langley (CV-1) in 1922. Because pilots approaching the short, narrow deck had a poor view of the landing area, an officer was assigned to stand portside aft, facing the incoming plane, and holding colored flags to signal corrections. With standardized signals, the landing pilot could be informed whether he was at the correct altitude, course, and speed, leading to a "cut" signal to reduce power and land the airplane. In a properly executed landing, the aircraft's tailhook snagged an arresting wire that brought the plane to an abrupt halt.
Because LSOs used colored paddles well into the jet age, the officers are still known as "paddles" or "wavers". From the late 1950s, carriers evolved from the original straight or axial-deck configuration into the angled deck, with landing signal mirrors or lenses providing correct glide slope information to the pilot. However, LSOs remained as important as before, radioing corrections to landing pilots instead of non-verbal signals with flags or paddles.
From the 1920s into the 1950s, U.S. and Royal Navy LSOs ("batsmen") used a variety of signals to assist pilots landing aboard ship. The signals provided information on lineup with the deck, height relative to proper glide slope, airspeed (fast or slow), and whether the plane's tailhook and wheels were down. The final signal was "the cut" (a slashing motion at the throat) ordering the pilot to reduce power and land the aircraft. A "waveoff" was a mandatory order to abort the landing and go around for another attempt. Sometimes a proper approach drew a waveoff if the deck was "fouled" with aircraft or personnel in the landing area.
The difference between American and British LSOs was the nature of their signals. Generally, U.S. Navy signals were advisory, indicating whether the plane was on glide slope, too high, too low, etc. Royal Navy signals were usually mandatory, ordering the pilot to go high, come port, etc. When "crossdecking" with one another, the two navies had to decide whether to use the U.S. or British system.
In contrast, the Imperial Japanese Navy had no LSOs. Instead, its carriers employed a system of colored lights much like today's general aviation displays at most airports. However, each Japanese carrier assigned a sailor to wave a red flag in case a landing was to be aborted.
LSOs have been rated carrier pilots since the end of World War II, but during the war the need was such that some non-aviators were trained. Because of the importance of LSOs, the duty offers great responsibility for junior officers, generally lieutenants (junior grade) to lieutenant commander.
The LSO in popular culture is best represented by "Beer Barrel", the colorful officer in James Michener's best-seller The Bridges at Toko-Ri. Actor Robert Strauss played the role in the 1954 motion picture.
GI Joe produced a 1/6th scale uniform and accessories for the LSO.
