PiperPower

I was watching a show the other day about two new Naval Officers training on the F-14. They had to be some of the last people being trained on the aircraft considering this documentary looked very recent.
They we're doing carrier landings in the day and at night and that's where my question comes from.
What happens when the weather is less than marginal? Are there some sort of modified instrument approaches set up to a carrier? I was reading about the use of TACAN and radar approaches, but couldn't find that much on it.

jcaplins

Perhaps they just move the airport to better weather?

KC10 FATboy

I recall a "friend of mine" shooting a TACAN approach to the carrier in a KC-10.

BE19Pilot

Yes, indeed instrument approaches are used to get aboard Navy ships at-sea. TACANs are installed aboard almost every ship with an aviation capability. This capability may only consist of a VERTREP spot for helicopters to drop their sling loads.
Carriers have TACAN approaches that usually incorporate a marshalling stack off a DME arc. ACLS (Automatic Carrier Landing System) uses radar and a data link to provide vertical/lateral guidance to the deck. The ACLS can also be used to "hand-fly" using a display that looks similiar to an ILS, but projected on the HUD. Finally, a CCA (Carrier controlled Approach) can be used which is very similar to a PAR/GCA. So, lots of ways to make it aboard for mid-rats!

Regards,

ex-Navy Rotorhead

BE19Pilot

http://www.tsretirees.org/memory/Femiano.doc

http://file.sunshinepress.org:54445/...atops-2004.pdf

Lots of good info on Naval Aviation..

milky

Never. The boat always steers directly for the first cloud it sees. It will change course to steer directly into a thunderstorm but never into clear air. I think it's a rule the Nuke SWOs get taught day one of "how to drive the carrier" school.

__________________
-Milky

milky

Pretty good except you left out the ICLS which is a carrier version of an ILS (not compatible). In a hornet, the ILS looks like a ILS needles and is called "bullseye" and the ACLS looks like a bullseye and is called "needles." I'm sure it made sense back in the day on some old jet.

__________________
-Milky

fiveninerzero

How proficient are Navy pilots at instruments? (ILS, etc) I understand that the Navy does not use LOC / GS at any of its airfields at all, PAR only.

okieskies99

As far as I remember from AIS, the TACAN system was developed specifially for AC carriers. It's size fits well on top, as opposed to the big VOR stations.

alarkyokie

A KC-10 on a carrier?
That's not a tailhook...

__________________
Words may contain graphic content! (Optical\spin)