Best Job On The Flight Deck - Catapult Safety Observer (Pt. 2)

Of all the jobs on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier, Catapult Safety is arguably the best, and it's definitely the most fun. The star of the show, the Catapult Safety Observer is the flight deck supervisor for all launches off of his catapult. Their job is to ensure all personnel are safely and expeditiously made ready for flight operations, to ensure all personnel run their watch stations efficiently, ensure a clear deck forward, and get the final signal from the pilot that they are ready for launch (the salute). Though this job was previously performed by Officers (and still is when the catapults are operating in "Deckedge Mode" instead of "ICCS Mode"), this job is more commonly performed by an enlisted ABE, fully qualed in all flight deck qualifications.

Of all of the quals to be had on the flight deck, this one will always have been my favorite. I could talk about this one forever!

I used a little bit of editing in this video to fastforward to the good parts. Hope that's okay! This starts not long after Pt. 1 ends.

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#FlightDeckLife

[everyone]

It's gotta feel freaking badass kneeling down, checking to see if everything is clear and then giving the hand gesture for the cat shot and watching a freaking fighter jet shoot off the deck into the sky at your command. You're basically giving the go ahead to launch a missile...except its multiple missiles...on essentially a very large, human-operated missile.

[LokiDWolf]

I don't even understand what I'm seeing. But, I'm extremely fascinated.

[pitufo]

Thank you for this. I was a plane captain for a VFA squadron in the 1990s. I'm there with you, although of course, this wasn't my perspective. Vivid memories of sights, sounds, smell of the flight deck are brought back to life watching these videos...even the feeling of the shaking of the legs as these aircraft along with the F-14s as they go up to military power.

[sonnym.]

I had the pleasure of serving on board the Ike. This was my last qual before I got out. Safety Observer and Topside PO are fun positions. V-2 was hard work and long hours. But working the deck was worth it all. Thanks for the video shippy!
CVN-69, V-2, BOW CATAPULTS, 1993-1997.

[jdshemp]

Thank's for the memory's! I was a Fly 2 blue shirt 1976-77, last cruise of the "Rosie" USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV 42).

[c.l.richardson]

God Bless those young men and women for during such an outstanding job!!

[Binx]

Thank you for the videos! You allow me to see things I'll never get to see in my lifetime!

[aaaht]

It's really amazing all of the training and coordination (on deck, below deck, and above deck) that is done to launch an aircraft.

[AlexisandsoOn]

You can make a musical out of this. You already have the performers right there...

[dannynelson]

I was a gear rat on the USS Forrestal 1990-1992 then on to AD School. Great Video

[crzdori]

Oh man the memories, I can smell this video. My favorite Jobs In exact order where Safety Observer, Topside PO and Deckedge operator. Thank you for the memories @flightdecklife!!!

[David-tmyj]

Pretty darn busy on that deck, just when you think you can nip off for a cup of tea another two Hornets line up. First world problems :-) Respect to ALL NATO personnel serving and retired, from a British Veteran.

[ЭлдиярАлымкулов-юр]

In the next life i hope i born in USA to the work on air carrier. Like this man, green jacket.
Very nice video. That best job in the world!

[russellbooth]

Awesome video and respect to all on that deck. Can only imagine doing that at night in bad weather!

[Lydirius]

I could watch this all day!
Thank you for your service!

[shark]

Although I served aboard a submarine, I could watch this stuff all day! Too cool!

[MarcusHelius]

I can only imagine how awesome it must feel to be so close to these jets as they take off!

[dimar]

I am so fascinated! is so much better than watching baseball.
Someday I would like to see these men LIVE in action, but I think they do not allow but this would be a once in a lifetime cool experience

[demers]

Loved it and the first time I've seen it from this perspective. Love the salute from the pilot right to camera and that's when I knew this video is different from the others. Best catapult video yet and I've seen tons of them.

[ronaldkelly]

Impressive, but a little explanation of those signals would help