Much goes into flight operations aboard today's modern Navy aircraft carrier. Preparations for a launch very much resemble a well-choreographed ballet. Those involved in the evolution have specific, cleary-defined roles, and are easily recognizable by the color of their jerseys.
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Purple Aviation Fuels [nickname: "Grapes"] |
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Blue Plane Handlers Aircraft elevator Operators Tractor Drivers Messengers and Phone Talkers |
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Green Catapult and arresting gear crews Air wing maintenance personnel Air wing quality control personnel Cargo-handling personnel Ground Support Equipment (GSE) troubleshooters Hook runners Photographer's Mates Helicopter landing signal enlisted personnel (LSE) |
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Yellow Aircraft handling officers Catapult and Arresting Gear Officers Plane directors |
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Red Ordnancemen Crash and Salvage Crews Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) |
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Brown Air wing plane captains Air wing line leading petty officers |
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White Squadron plane inspectors Landing Signal Officer (LSO) Air Transfer Officers (ATO) Liquid Oxygen (LOX) crews Safety Observers Medical personnel |
Information & Graphics Courtesy of U.S. Navy
