300 – CATOBAR – Recovery
CASE I – This is a daytime visual recovery flown in when the cloud deck is higher than 3,000 feet and visibility is greater than 5 miles. Aircraft proceed to a holding stack over the carrier. Case I recoveries are used to the maximum extent possible.
CASE II – Case II recoveries are flown when weather conditions require instrument flight during the descent but allow visual flight near the carrier. Case III procedures are used until the ship is in sight, at which point, Case I procedures will be used. The minimum weather requirements are a 1,000-foot ceiling and 5-mile visibility.
CASE III – This instrument recovery is used at night or when the weather is below Case II minimums. Case II and III recoveries are flown from a marshall stack behind the carrier.
CATCC – Carrier Air Traffic Control Center
CCA – Carrier Control Area – 50 NM radius zone around the carrier (unlimited altitude) Marshall controlled area
CCZ – Carrier Control Zone – The airspace within a circular limit defined by a 5 mile radius around the ship surface up to and including 2,500 feet under the cognizance of the Air Boss during VFR conditions
11 TSG Operates 2 frequency channel around the CVN for simplicity
BTN 5 – Marshall — (254.000 AM)
BTN 6 – Departure – Paddles – LSO – Approach – Tower — (250.000 AM)
HAIL-R Check
If flying from the ship to shore, or vice versa, it is important to ensure that the aircraft is setup for the particulars of that recovery. Go through the ship -to-shore checklist (HAIL-R) to ensure this is done.
- H: Hook / Heats
- A: Anti-Skid / Altimeter
- I: Instruments
- L: Landing Weight / Lights
- R: Radios / RADALT