Aircraft Launch and Recovery Specialists

Background

The military operates thousands of aircraft that take off and land on aircraft carriers all over the world. The successful launch and recovery of aircraft is important to the completion of air missions and the safety of flight crews. Aircraft launch and recovery specialists operate and maintain catapults, arresting gear, and other equipment used in aircraft carrier takeoff and landing operations.

What They Do

Aircraft launch and recovery specialists in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Direct aircraft launch and recovery operations
• Install airfield crash barriers and barricades
• Install and maintain visual landing aids
• Operate consoles to control launch and recovery equipment, including catapults and arresting gear
• Operate elevators to transfer aircraft between flight and storage decks
• Test and adjust launch and recovery equipment

Physical Demands

Normal color vision is required to work with color-coded parts and the wiring of launch and recovery equipment.

Special Requirements

No information available.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

• Ability to use hand tools and test equipment
• Interest in aircraft flight operations
• Interest in working on hydraulic and mechanical equipment

Helpful School Subjects

Helpful school subjects include:

• Shop mechanics

Helpful Fields of Study

No information available.

Work Environment

Aircraft launch and recovery specialists work outdoors aboard ships while operating and maintaining launch and recovery equipment or holding visual landing aids for incoming aircraft. They are exposed to noise and fumes from jet and helicopter engines.

Services offering this career:

• Marine Corps
• Navy

Hiring Practices

To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.

This position is for enlisted personnel.

Wages

The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.

Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay. 

Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.

There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.

Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.

Training Provided

Job training consists of nine to 13 weeks of classroom instruction, including practice in maintaining launch and recovery equipment.

Course content typically includes:

• Installing crash barriers and barricades
• Operating and maintaining launch and recovery equipment

Civilian Counterparts

There are no direct civilian counterparts to military aircraft launch and recovery specialists. However, many of the skills learned are relevant to jobs performed by ground crews at civilian airports.

Employment and Outlook

In peace time the services have about 2,500 aircraft launch and recovery specialists. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new specialists due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, specialists are assigned to an aircraft launch and recovery section aboard an aircraft carrier or at an airfield. Initially, they perform maintenance and repair on equipment, working under close supervision. With experience, they perform more complex activities. In time, they may train and supervise other specialists. Eventually, they may supervise activities on carrier flight and storage decks.