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Transport _______________ Q�

The island The 'yellow gear' ircraft carriers of the world don't come much larger than the US
Approaching 50m tall the The 'yellow gear' supports air Navy's nuclear-powered Nimitz-class. At 4·5 acres and stretching
tower is one tenth as wide operations and includes: the mobile A 1,092 feet, the flight deck ofUSSAbraham Lincoln dwarfs the
at the flight deck where crash crane or 'tilley' that removes
space is at a premium. It flight-deck obstructions, the forklift, Chrysler Building-and it's not even the biggest around. Despite its
bristles with radar and tow tractors for spotting of aircraft, awesome profile, however, its role is more than symbolic. The carrier can
communication antenna and jet engine starting units. balance and mobilise a seagoing airbase of multiple strike and combat
that can sense the
proximity of the fleet, support aircraft, with a ship's company of over 5,000 souls. It can deploy
target encroaching anywhere within international waters while retaining the sovereign
threats and receive TV/ territory of its home place of berth. Therefore, unlike an airbase stationed
satellite reception.
on foreign soil, no permission for landing or overflight rights is required.
Despite its loner appearance, however, the aircraft carrier is not without
friends; it is often flanked by a more nimble carrier 'battle' group that can
offer added protection, tactical options and extra supplies to the fleet. 0

Bombs away!
Stored in magazines on
the lower deck, weapons
are transferred to below
A vested interest While nuclear-powered carriers flight deck by bomb
Coloured vests signify flight-deck function. elevators; once assembled
The whites represent safety officer and crew; they are transferred to
blue are the aircraft handling and chock have unlimited range, non-nuclear carts and the flight deck
crewmen; green is the catapult and arrest elevators where they can
crews; yellow includes the catapult/flight-deck be manually fitted by
officers; and brown, the plane captains. ones make do with 17ft to the gallon flight deck crew.

No man is an 'island'

The primary flight control (or
'Pri-Fiy') is home to the Air Boss. With
a craw's nest view of proceedings
and an array of GPS receivers and
radar screens to hand, he
choreographs the well-oiled ritual of
take-off and landings, flight-deck
manoeuvres and those in-flight
aircraft in proximity to the ship.
Below, the Bridge is home to the
Officer of the Deck (OOD) -
appointed on four-hourly rotations by the Commanding Officer (Captain). He
stays at his station while 'under sail' and is responsible for all safety and
operational decisions from navigation through to communications. With its
computer-enhanced air detection systems, the nearby CDC (Combat Direction
Centre) provides the Tactical Action Officer with real-time data to assist his
role in supporting the CO in defensive/offensive operations.

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