Landing Signal Officer
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Landing Signal Officers (LSOs) are naval aviators specially trained to control the approach and landings of airplanes aboard aircraft carriers.
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[edit] "Paddles"
In the U.S. Navy, aircraft 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. These officers became officially known as Landing Signal Officers (LSOs), and later occasionally known as Landing Safety Officers. Because LSOs used colored paddles, flags, or wands well into the jet age, the officers became unofficially known as "paddles" (US), or "batsmen" (UK). They are still referred thus to this day, and the LSO trade is referred to as "waving."
[edit] Early Years
From the 1920s into the 1950s, U.S. and Royal Navy LSOs used a variety of signals to assist pilots landing aboard aircraft carriers. The signals provided information on lineup with the deck, height relative to proper glide slope, angle of attack (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. In a properly executed landing, the aircraft's tailhook snagged an arresting wire that brought the plane to an abrupt halt. 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.
[edit] US vs UK LSOs
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 add power, come port, etc. When "crossdecking" with one another, the two navies had to decide whether to use the U.S. or British system.
[edit] Imperial Japanese Navy
In contrast, the Imperial Japanese Navy had no LSOs. Instead, its carriers employed a system of colored lights much like today's general aviation Runway edge lights at most airports. However, each Japanese carrier assigned a sailor to wave a red flag in case a landing was to be aborted.
[edit] Post Optical Landing System (OLS) Years
From the late 1950s, carriers evolved from the original straight or axial-deck configuration into the angled flight deck, with Optical Landing Systems providing correct glide slope information to the pilot. Initially, the device was thought able to allow the pilot to land without direction from the LSO. However, accident rates actually increased upon the system's initial introduction, so the current system of using both the OLS and the LSO was developed. This development, along with other safety improvements, contributed to the US carrier landing accident rate plummeting from 35 per 10,000 landings in 1954 to 7 per 10,000 landings in 1957. [1]
Together with the OLS, the LSO provides input to the pilot via a radio handset (that looks like a telephone handset), advising of power requirements, position relative to glide path and centerline. The LSO also holds a “pickle” switch that controls a combination of lights attached to the the OLS to indicate "go around" using the bright red, flashing wave off lights. Additional signals, such as "cleared to land," "add power," or "divert" can be signaled using with a row of green "cut" lights or a combination thereof. Often, pictures of LSOs show them holding the pickle switch over their head. This is done as a visual reminder to the LSOs that the deck is “fouled” with aircraft or personnel in the landing area. Once the deck becomes “clear,” the LSOs are free to lower the pickle.
[edit] US LSO Qualifications
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. Prospective LSOs are selected among junior pilots from each fixed wing carrier squadron. The first qualification they receive is a “field qualification,” which allows them to wave aircraft at shore runways during Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLPs). The LSO next attends the LSO School at NAS Oceana, Virginia, for Initial Formal Ground Training. Additional qualifications include:
- Squadron Qualification – LSO qualified to wave his own type aircraft; typically achieved after a full deployment.
- Wing Qualification – LSO qualified to wave all the aircraft types in his airwing; typically acheived after additional deployments.
- Training Qualification – LSO qualified to wave Student [Naval Aviator]s and Replacement Pilots.
- Staff Qualification – This is the Senior LSO for the airwing. He qualifies other LSOs.
- Force LSO - This is the senior LSO for the fleet.
[edit] Wave Teams
LSOs typically work in teams aboard ship. In an example arrangement, four teams of 6-8 LSOs would fly for three days, then wave on the fourth day.
[edit] Air Wing LSO
- All LSOs work directly for the Air Wing LSO (aka “Cag Paddles”), who is ultimately responsible the safe and expeditious recovery of aircraft, and for training/qualifying junior LSOs.
[edit] Controlling LSO
- The Controlling LSO is primarily responsible for aircraft glideslope and angle of attack. He also issues a “grade” for each landing.
[edit] Backup LSO
- The Backup LSO is typically more experienced than the Controlling LSO, and is primarily responsible for aircraft lineup and ensuring that the landing area is clear. He helps in the grading.
[edit] Deck Status LSO
- This individual monitors deck status as either “clear” or “foul”. Foul deck is further delineated based on what is “fouling” the landing area. With men or aircraft in the landing area, the “waveoff window” is adjusted so that approaching aircraft get no closer than 100 feet from the landing area. If there is neither man or aircraft in the landing, area but the deck is still foul, aircraft are allowed to get within 10 feet of landing prior to being waved off.
[edit] LSO Equipment
[edit] LSO Platform
LSOs do their waiving from the LSO Platform, which is on the port side of the ship aft of the port side aircraft elevator. It is protected by a wind deflector, and has an “escape area” that deck personnel can jump into in an emergency. The platform is outfitted with communications gear, deck status and ship indications, as well as controls for the OLS.
[edit] LSO Workstation
The LSO work station consists of three (3) pickle switches; a wind screen; LSO Base Console; and Heads Up Display unit. Each ship's configuration may vary in some small degree.
[edit] Optical Landing System
[edit] Integrated Launch And Recovery Television Surveillance System (ILARTS)
ILARTS provides the LSO with a reference for aircraft lineup and glideslope information during recovery operations, and is used as a debriefing medium for pilots. Additionally, the system is used for recording significant flight deck events and, when necessary, for mishap or incident analysis.
[edit] Grading
Every carrier landing made US pilots is graded for safety and technique, using a complex shorthand to denote what each aircraft did during various phases of each approach. Approaches are divided into parts:
- The 90 – when the aircraft has approximately 90 degrees of turn until lined up with the centerline.
- The Start – generally from when the aircraft crosses the wake and/or the pilot “calls the ball” at around ¾ mile.
- The Middle – from about ½ to ¼ mile.
- In Close – from about ¼ mile to 1/10 mile
- At the Ramp – from when the aircraft crosses the round-down of the flight deck until touchdown
- In the Wires – from touchdown until stopped
Deviations from optimal glideslope, centerline, and angle of attack are noted for each phase, resulting in an overall grade. Grades are debriefed to each pilot by the LSO teams after each cycle. Average grades are computed for each pilot, resulting in a highly competitive “pecking order” of pilot landing skill throughout the airwing.
[edit] Example Grade
An example comment might read, “High, slightly overshooting start, fly through down on comeback in the middle, low in close to at the ramp. Fair-2.” Translated, the aircraft was high at the start of the approach, and it had slightly overshot the landing area centerline. As the pilot corrected to centerline, he did not add enough power so he flew through the glideslope from high to low. The LSO likely would have given the pilot a signal at this time to add power. For the last portion of the approach, the aircraft remained below glideslope (but was on centerline because of the lack of a comment), touching down prior to the target 3-wire. The pilot caught the 2 wire, and received a grade of “fair.”
- “OK Underline” – a perfect pass, generally under extreme circumstances. Naval Aviators often have hundreds of carrier landings without ever receiving this grade. Worth 5 points.
- ”OK” – a pass with only very minor deviations from centerline, glideslope and angle of attack. Worth 4 points.
- ”Fair” – a pass with one or more safe deviations from centerline, glideslope and/or angle of attack. Worth 3 points.
- ”No Grade” – a pass with gross deviations from centerline, glideslope and/or angle of attack. Worth 2 points.
- ”Technique Waveoff” – a pass with deviations from centerline, glideslope and/or angle of attack that are unsafe and need to be aborted. Worth 1 point.
- ”Cut Pass” – an unsafe pass with unacceptable deviations, typically after a wave off is possible. Worth zero points.
- ”Foul Deck Waveoff” – a pass that was aborted due to the landing area being “fouled”. No points are assigned, and the pass is not counted toward the pilots landing grade average.
[edit] Popular Culture
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.
