Prepare The Deck For Recovery! "Wrapping the Waist"

Discover the distinct setup of Waist Catapults, vital for efficient aircraft recovery. On Catapult #3, the JBD Safety, Weight Board Operator, and Holdback Operators play a crucial role in the "wrapping the waist". This involves securing metal 'buttons' along the track to prevent arresting gear wire mishaps during recovery.
Our video compiles captivating footage of Weight Board and Holdback Operators skillfully performing their button-wrapping tasks.
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#FlightDeckLife

[@Legitcar117]

I could watch flight ops vids all day

[@dereklchung]

That;s a pretty tough workout. Makes crossfit a picnic.

[@MayhemCanuck]

Great stuff as always and thanks for taking the time to add the description. Amazing sunset at the end.

[@josephzickgraf9800]

The gears dogs have to be one the coolest jobs on the flight deck

[@snakeeyes037]

I remember working the waist cat on the USS Coral Sea 87-89 and we used rubber slot seals that we would first line them up along a quarter of the slots on the cat track and use our boot heels to push them in. When we resume launching they were removed. We use to have a contest to see who could pull the entire rubber slot seals out with one whipping motion. It was pretty simple when it was wet from the steam.

[@jillgill6860]

I find this fascinating could watch all day and all night

[@BradMore]

Talk about kids who never got paid what they were worth ... hardest bunch of folks on the boat (V2).

[@brianl9944]

Hi I enjoy watching your flight deck videos... Can you possibly make videos about your everyday life on a carrier like "living onboard an aircraft carrier" showing your living quarters, dining facilities, and what you do for fun and relaxation, etc..

[@christianrosa1120]

That person specifically or anyone who did the job ?

[@Chromiumg]

Christian Rosa anyone

[@MadMax02600]

Check out the PBS "Carrier" documentary if you didn't

[@prongsnort2622]

Love your videos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😄😄😄😄

[@IllegalAlienRacing]

Does anyone count those pieces to make sure they were all installed and one isn't laying on the deck unbolted?

[@FlightDeckLife]

Yes, the Safety Observer or Catapult Launching Officer (Shooter) check as well as the Top Side Safety Petty Officer. The deck will not be cleared for landing until the radio to the tower that it's completed.

[@IllegalAlienRacing]

Cool, thx for the reply. Great videos!

[@alexandertataryn3660]

Way to put in work!!! Go Navy!

[@gvardiecky9507]

it always seems to me, that those F15 or any other fighter aircraft is really big compared to 300meters long aircraft carrier, but from human perspective and seeing him running on deck, its actually fucking long deck and actually really fucking big aircrafts.

[@chrismaggio7879]

4.5 acres! And yes, especially at the end of a day and you are hungry, greasy, overheated, and wearing all that gear, that couple hundred feet from workstation to workstation can be a herculean effort!

[@StealthStorm02]

I enjoy watching your videos. This is my dream job I want to do someday! 😀

[@christianrosa1120]

Go for it lots of hours of working hard work 100% you'll be on an aircraft carrier the first 5 years plus eating and sleeping habits you'll get to adjust for sure but excitement wise I'd say only compares to shooting a weapon

[@Popesontour]

It's the best but hardest job in the world! ex ABH3 V1 Div!

[@WootTootZoot]

Do the "buttons" just get pushed off into the ocean when the airplane is launched ?

[@choppertimberland139]

Yup, they put them there so when the aircraft is launched it makes a clicking noise every 35 feet, signaling to the launch operator the aircraft is underway and approaching the bubble.

[@chrismaggio7879]

No, they are placed in the slot only when they are done using that catapult for a while, and only on the waist cats, not the bow cats. They are removed before the catapult is back operating. And in fact there is a long rubber seal that is place into the track when they are done landing all the aircraft (when flight ops conclude for that cycle) and that seals in the heat/steam so the cat stays warm. it takes a long time to get the cats up to operating temp if they are allowed to cool all the way down. We usually kept 2 hot and 2 cold (for maintenance)

[@ollyk22]

These vids are great but I have too many questions! Would be cool if you could narrate. Quick Q though are those blocks just left on the side of the catapult channel during launch?

[@MrSheckstr]

No there was another crew person laying them out but because this was done with some sort of head mounted camera you don’t see that person

[@chrismaggio7879]

@@MrSheckstr correct. They are kept near the Centerdeck Operator hatch and are dispersed after the cat is closed for business. They have to quickly place them in the cat track as the aircraft that were launched will be returning and this catapult is ON their landing strip. In fact at the end you hear over the 1MC (loudspeaker) that the first returning jet is only 4 miles out! That's close for a jet, not close for a moped!

[@torn-_shuttle123]

As observed, the (12) Buttons are only placed in Catapult #3 cat track after the Shuttle & Grab are fully retracted in the “Aft” position. Catapult #3 shuttle is maneuvered slightly forward to release the Grab assembly. That’s where you see that “hard shelled” apparatus placed on the shuttle (Fast Eddie), to protect the shuttle from the A/G wires. Catapult #4 is retracted as well, but doesn’t require the Deck plate buttons. This is all done on the Waist Catapults because during “recovery”, the Arresting Gear wires don’t get caught in the Catapult track. Or potentially get wrapped around the Shuttle. There’s a lot more to it, but hopefully this gives you a general idea on why #3 & #4 Cats need to be ready for Aircraft Recovery.

[@chrismaggio7879]

Funny, but one of the things I miss most about the decklife is hearing things called over the 1MC... I was Bowcats (CVN 72 Plank owner) so we never had to wrap with buttons... but hot greasy slot seal whipping was always a highlight! (to a civilian that sounds like an odd thing! haha)

[@Popesontour]

Flight quarters flight quarters! Prepare for the 2030 launch! Check all pockets for fod!

[@mclaren1141]

Is there a speific way they have to exit the deck? At least thats what it looks like. Thanks in advance.

[@chrismaggio7879]

Each gang on the deck has a "locker" area designated them just below the flight deck, so they tend to exit closest to that hatch. Of course they can wander the rat maze and get there from anywhere but a clear deck is the easiest way to transit. We had the Greenie Locker, and all our gear and coffee cups and gedunk (junk food) was stashed there so the faster we got there the more junk food we got.

[@Juliso35]

What for is that piece? 🤔

[@smoki2515]

So the arresting wire doesn't go into the track. It could break the wire or damage it during aircraft recovery. The aircraft have to use that area for landing. I have never been on a carrier or been in the Navy but I was in the military and understand why those buttons need to be in the track. I think I would have served on a carrier I was following my dad into the military and he wasn't Navy. But I like the Navy.

[@Juliso35]

George VictorLast. Excuse my ignorance. I don't understand. As far as I know. the arresting wire is perpendicular to that track. How could be posible that it can be swallowed. Is the wire enought rigid itself to keep straight? Thanks

[@brianl9944]

for a few seconds it actually aligns parallel to the track when retrieving

[@nickdawn3985]

Those 2 Cats are on the landing deck side and when an aircraft lands the arresting cable gets stretched far once it's released from the air frame tail hook it's like a snake and could fall in. During landing ops there are still 2 catapults available for takeoff. If you watch some aircraft carrier landing videos you should be able to see it.

[@BeechSportBill]

How could the cable get caught in the track?

[@chrismaggio7879]

When the cable is pulled out (dragged by the aircraft upon being snagged by the tail hook) it is extended in a similar direction as the catapult track, so the possibility exists that it could actually lay into the opening where the catapult shuttle rides, and hot metal cable jammed in hot metal slot then pulled by a VERY LARGE retraction engine below decks would spell out a costly and unwanted repair of both the track and the arresting gear engine below.

[@christianrosa1120]

Only did it once then continued avoiding the waist and staying on bow cats

[@yxeaviationphotog]

Those blocks that go into the cat track, is there a set distance for spacing those out?

[@maricidevamega939]

If you looked carefully, you will see where they put those "buttons" at, though I am not sure how far each of them is. : )

[@MrSheckstr]

Yes they are set a set distance. Along both sides of the cat track there are several long panels that can be removed to service the system. These buttons are put down at the Union between these panels you see a sort of made of 6 circles ? It’s right there they put the button down. Had the guy turned you would see an identical shape on the other side of the track

[@onceANexile]

WTF???? USA 76-79 DUSTOFF

[@Edwardo4953]

Read the description!!! 😁👍

[@alphamale1865]

I was a a ABF I worked the flight deck but what were the metal blocked in the cat for

[@FlightDeckLife]

Check the video description!

[@davejazz2424]

Can someone tell me why the guys do this?

[@FlightDeckLife]

Check the caption!

[@davejazz2424]

Appreciate that, but being a landlubber, although fascinated by what these guys do, I have no idea what the hell they are bolting down! ?

[@TurtleV1]

Another great vid from you know who. Good job! 10/10

[@FlightDeckLife]

Thanks!

[@madcatgains]

1:40 what is this guy doing, protecting the people behind him who know that its dangerous to stand close to an aircraft thats taking off?

[@flippinkamikaze8738]

It's likely them having a laugh. If you watch, there's a yellow line at their feet. It's probably a visual indicator not to cross that line, or you're in danger. They're joking about "Oh no, don't cross the yellow line, or you're gonna be swallowed up by the big bad Hornet!" Despite having a wide berth. Depending on who was on deck at the time, that could've been an ass chewing. When I was in the Air Force, certain areas were marked off with a red line. If anyone even so much as broke the plane of that red line, Security Forces would come out and have you kissing pavement for "breaking red". (Side story, during an inspection, an O-6 was exasperated at one of the inspectors, and his arm crossed the red line while pointing at the jet. Imagine being the poor E-3 SF guy who had to ask the Colonel "S-sir, please t-turn away from the sound of my voice and l-lie face d-down... please?")

[@madcatgains]

Haha thanks for the story +Flippin Kamikaze , Gave me a good laugh and a wise advice NOT to cross the yellow or red line or else you would break a rule on the flightdeck.

[@chrismaggio7879]

Yeah, the guy was just joking around with shipmates... I believe he was "saving her life" and she was laughing about it, so it was not a concern. What was wrong with it was they were doing this on a loaded deck (aircraft on other cat was prepping to launch) and while that is happening NO ONE should be playing anything but straight up. Everyone is looked at before a cat launches and if they see something happening they can and often do hold or suspend a launch until they know there is no actual issue or safety concern.

[@yes_head]

It's hard for me to imagine an arrestor wire somehow making it's way that far forward. If one were to break could it really be flung that far forward? Whenever I see something like this I assume it actually happened some time in the past which is why this procedure is done today.

[@robertodol4749]

could you explain me why that smoke from the track after shooting? greetings from Brazil

[@leonardodavinci303]

Thats steam from the steam catapult. The newest carriers now use linear electromagnetic propulsion.

[@chrismaggio7879]

The cats you were watching are the waist cats, and are situated directly in the middle of the landing strip/runway. When a plane takes an arrestment (grabs a cable) it is dragged a good distance down that exact area, and the #4 wire (furthest forward of the cables) easily runs that far forward when pulled. When they break (rarely) they actually fling Backwards and Sideways, not forward, as all the force being applied to stop the aircraft is to the aft end of the ship.

[@chrismaggio7879]

Also, the newer ships have only 3 wires (thought I'd throw that in before it gets jumped on by some guy in his mom's basement who only reads about this stuff. 😁)

[@MegaJohnhammond]

why don't they just use arrestor wires that are bigger than the slot in the track? Duh.

[@FlightDeckLife]

Bigger wires means bigger sheaves which means bigger engine and the carrier needs to fit 3-4 arresting gear engines (including a barricade engine) all on the O3 level. Space is tight and arresting gear wires are reliable.

[@MegaJohnhammond]

The engineering that goes into a carrier is phenomenal. I don't mean to be second guessing the brilliant engineers who designed all this stuff. But, if you take a step back and look, having the arrestor wires fall into the track? Somebody was asleep at the wheel.

[@chrismaggio7879]

@@MegaJohnhammond Its a simple way to avoid the issue... why does it bother you so much? It works, and it doesn't effect anything negatively. It's cheaper than the answer that FDL gave you above...

[@yolandejackson8829]

Is the process done in rotation and according too how many flights I'm asking because I noticed a few people were waiting near the stairwell on a earlier video..are they waiting too go back up on deck?

[@FlightDeckLife]

To "unwrap" the deck!

[@jimbolyo]

Wow, John Zach, John Howe, ? and many others

[@robertodol4749]

could you explain me why that smoke from the track after shooting? greetings from Brazil

[@jimbolyo]

​@@robertodol4749 it's steam. The catapult system runs on steam.

[@richardrybarczyk5522]

Not to appear as an idiot but what are you bolting into the slot and why?

[@Ayetsu]

He explains in the video description.

[@richardrybarczyk5522]

Ayetsu ....Thanks, I never thought of checking that.