Landing on a carrier in bad weather w.r.t. cloud base
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Landing on a carrier in bad weather w.r.t. cloud base
What's the worst weather in terms of cloud base can an aircraft land on a carrier?
From what I've seen on TV, the aircraft judge their approach using something which I guess is the equivalent of PAPIs. Now presumably the aircraft can be vectored around to the ship if there is cloud (like a SRA) and once clear of cloud land visually.
I'm assuming that aircraft have no facility for an autoland so whats the minimum cloud base that this can be achieved. What happens if the cloud descends below that minimum, ditch?
Does the Ship have a TACAN or similar device that allows an instrument approach back to the ship?
From what I've seen on TV, the aircraft judge their approach using something which I guess is the equivalent of PAPIs. Now presumably the aircraft can be vectored around to the ship if there is cloud (like a SRA) and once clear of cloud land visually.
I'm assuming that aircraft have no facility for an autoland so whats the minimum cloud base that this can be achieved. What happens if the cloud descends below that minimum, ditch?
Does the Ship have a TACAN or similar device that allows an instrument approach back to the ship?
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Retired to Bisley from the small African nation
Age: 68
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Now you used the word aircraft, so I have to jump in and say that the rotary-wing fraternity can get on a deck in viz of about 50 ft if pushed. What the limits are for an [B]aeroplane[B] I'm not sure.
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Seattle
Posts: 3,196
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
100' if Mode I ACLS (coupled approach) is available. Otherwise 200' for Mode II/III ACLS (not coupled) or ILS.
Carriers have TACAN, NDB, ILS (not the same as civil ILS) and ACLS (Automatic Carrier Landing System; part of the ship-aircraft data link).
Autoland IS available (Mode I ACLS).
The OLS (Optical Landing System) or "Meatball" is significantly more precise than PAPI, and is also gyro stabilized. It is used within 3/4 mile VFR or 1/2 mile IFR.
Carriers have TACAN, NDB, ILS (not the same as civil ILS) and ACLS (Automatic Carrier Landing System; part of the ship-aircraft data link).
Autoland IS available (Mode I ACLS).
The OLS (Optical Landing System) or "Meatball" is significantly more precise than PAPI, and is also gyro stabilized. It is used within 3/4 mile VFR or 1/2 mile IFR.
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: North of CDG
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As Intruder mentioned, modern aircraft carriers have a range of navigational and landing aids that would put most airports to shame. As for autoland, modern carrier aircraft (F/A-18 Hornet/Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale M, etc.) have autoland capability. Not too sure about larger TP aircraft such as the E-2C Hawkeye or C-2 Greyhound. While a reduced sortie rate can be achieved in fairly nasty weather (eg. North Atlantic in winter), there must be minima under which operations wouldn't be possible.
One advantage of landing on an aircraft carrier though is that the "runway" can turn into wind!
Cheers
One advantage of landing on an aircraft carrier though is that the "runway" can turn into wind!
Cheers
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
thanks for the replies. I had no idea that autoland was available.
I can only imagine how difficult it would be landing in those conditions whether manually or with an autoland functionality.
I'll have to google these systems to find out more - sounds very interesting.
I can only imagine how difficult it would be landing in those conditions whether manually or with an autoland functionality.
I'll have to google these systems to find out more - sounds very interesting.
