Nov. 14, 2013
Vol. 2 Issue 140
DAILY DIGEST
THROUGH THE GLASS SAILORS CONDUCT FLIGHT OPERATIONS FROM THE BUBBLE Story by MCSA (SW) Kelly M. Agee
I
t makes you feel like a fish in an aquarium. It shows a different perspective of the flight deck that makes you feel like you are in a different world. This location is the Integrated Catapult Control System (ICCS), often referred to as “the bubble.” There are two bubbles below
the flight deck: one forward and one aft. The forward bubble is the one most commonly used. It is located on the bow between catapults one and two. There are three modes of operations the ship can be in. There is panel mode, deck edge mode and emergency mode. It
is the emergency mode that requires the shooter to be located in the bubble. There are two people who work in the bubble, an aviation boatswain’s mate (equipment) (ABE) and a shooter. The job of the ABEs is to monitor the aircraft and verify with the panel operator control to make sure everything is set properly and the catapult is ready to fire. The job of the shooter is to push a button that helps launch the plane and to tell the ABE when they can lay Continued on page 3