Who is a Shooter in an Aircraft Carrier?

Siddhant Sandhu
March 31, 2023
2401

When we talk about the Navy of any country, we are reminded of the various roles and responsibilities it has to perform. From a Sailor to a naval aviator, the navy provides a lot of diversified roles in itself. We all have various Naval fighters taking off the aircraft carrier, but we have also seen a man wearing a yellow jacket who is assisting the pilot to take off indicating some signs and actions. This role is performed by a Catapult Officer, also known as a Shooter. Let us know about a Shooter in an Aircraft Carrier, and what he actually does.

Who is a Shooter?

Catapult officers, also referred to as “Shooters,” are Naval Aviators or Naval Flight Officers who are in charge of all facets of catapult operation and upkeep. They make sure that the wind is blowing in the right direction and at the right speed over the deck and that the catapult steam settings will give the aircraft enough speed to fly at the conclusion of the stroke.

Also read: What Is An Aircraft Catapult System In An Aircraft Carrier?

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What does a Shooter do?

Catapult officers (also known as Shooters) are in charge of catapult maintenance and operation. They ensure that there is enough wind (direction and speed) over the deck and that the steam settings for the catapults ensure that the aircraft has enough flying speed at the end of the stroke. They are also in charge of alerting the pilot that he or she may take off.

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When taking off from a carrier, there are several factors to consider: wind speed, wind direction, the speed of the jet taking off, and the amount of steam required in the catapult to get the plane up to that speed. When the entire catapult system, including the jet-blast deflector, is inspected, the shooter enters wind calculations to determine how much steam is required to launch the aircraft. The shooter then informs the pilot that takeoff is clear.

Why does the catapult officer do a squat pose to guide the plane when taking off?

Before pointing forward, the cat officer actually touches the deck. The person who actually depressed the trigger to shoot the cat in the olden days was on the catwalk at the edge of the flight deck. On the flight deck, all signals must be operational. On the roof, hand signals are the only genuine means of communication, particularly during the launch and landing of aircraft. Everyone is standing right there on the runway, and the jets are kind of loud. The cat officer must be clearly understood to be directing the shooter to shoot the cat and not pointing up the deck.

Once the last planes are launched, the landing of the planes from the previous launch is frequently done, and they then taxi up the second catapult to be parked near the bow. The cat officer will be checking both aft and forward to make sure the cat is clear, as well as all around the plane and the catwalks to make sure the deck area is prepared for the shoot, as the pilot gives the salute, signaling that the pilot and the plane are ready to leave the ship. that everything is prepared. He will then touch the deck and point in the direction of the shooter, who will then release the cat.

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