'orca' asked: "... Does it really take 3 years to make a LSO?...: Probably as in the question: "How long is a piece of string" there are variable answers however a useful LSO in the UK context will take a first sea tour and then afterward some USN LSO school training then on the job training back on CVF and it is all good - much the same as the RAN FAA experience back in the day....
Naval Aviation News May– Jun 2001
LSO School: Where the Teachers Go to Learn
http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/2000s/2001/mj01/lso.pdf (1Mb)
"...The school administers three different programs: a two-week Initial Formal Ground Training (IFGT) course, an FRS/TRACOM course for LSOs heading to duty in fleet readiness squadrons or the training command, and three-day Advanced Formal Ground Training (AFGT) for prospective air wing LSOs.
But the school is only part of the LSO training program; it is actually a second step along the training path of a typical LSO. Prospective LSOs are first-tour pilots who upon arriving at their squadron, volunteer and are nominated by squadron commanding officers to apprentice alongside the squadron and air wing LSOs. They are identified early enough to be given the opportunity to progress to wing qualification status before the end of their first operational tour.
After the first cruise when pilots are familiar enough with the LSO's job to make the school a worthwhile experience, they attend IFGT course, taking their skills to the next level. "We like students coming here to have at least waved a portion of work-ups on the platform, so that everything we show them makes sense and we can move on to fine-tuning them as LSOs," LCDR Watkins said.
After IFGT, newly trained LSOs return to their squadron and joinits LSO team to perform air wing duty. After a squadron LSO tour, the LSO returns to the school for the FRS/TRACOM course, becoming eligible for the subsequent shore duty assignment in an FRS or a training command unit.
LSOs who continue their "paddles" career typically get air wing LSO assignments after attending AFGT. Following that sea tour, they often go to a department head position, such as OIC of the LSO school...."