re: So you want to be a Carrier Pilot

quote:

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When they say, “bla blah blah, call your ball..” is that the pilot speaking to the LSO, or vice-versa?

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That is the Approach Controller (most commonly during instrument recoveries) or occasionally the LSO speaking.

Typically Approach drops you off 3/4 mile behind the boat with the call "Dragon 302, 3/4 mile, call the ball". This is your signal to quit flying instruments and look outside to see if you can pick up the OLS. Hopefully you are on centerline and the yellow "meatball" is centered up vertically in line with the horizonal green datums, indicating you are on the proper glidepath. (During the day most recoveries are done with minimum comms or sometimes even "zip lip". You check in with approach as you approach the ship, and then you don't talk at all while you hang out overhead at your squadron's pre-assigned altitude within 10nm of the boat and watch while they are launching all the planes from the next cycle. In my airwing I think the F-14s were at 3K and 4K, Hornets at 5K and 6K, A-6s at 7K, S-3s at 8K, etc. The first Tomcat should hit the break as the last plane is going down the catapult, and you move down a thousand feet once the layer below you clears out. The goal is to have an A/C touching down every 45 seconds. You only key the radio once you come around the corner and line yourself up. Then you make your ball call.)

If you in fact see the ball, you respond with your A/C nose number, type of A/C and current fuel state. i.e. "302, Hornet ball, 5.0" The LSOs and the ATC guys up in the tower as well as the Air Boss and his folks in Pri Fly want to know who/what airplane is landing, how much it weighs for the arresting gear and how much gas you have in case you bolter and go around.

If you don't see the ball, due to extreme low visibility or being AFU, you say "Clara". Now it's up to the LSO to tell you where you are and give you directions on how to fix it. They will say something along the lines of "You're low lined up left. Little power, right for line-up" Generally followed immediately (at least in my case most of the time!)with "Easy with it, you're overpowered, come left!" If you get back in the neighborhood of CL/GP/On speed and you see the ball, you call "Hornet ball" and continue to land.

And yes, you do go to 100% military thrust (or maybe even a little afterburner depending on how scary it is) each time you touch down in case you miss the wire "bolter" and have to go around. You will get yelled at by the Air Boss if you don't. And if you make a habit of it you won't be a carrier aviator for very long.