Aug. 27, 2013
Vol. 2 Issue 88
BEHIND The Visual Landing Aids of uss nimitz Story and photo by MC3 (SW) Nathan McDonald
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aunching and recovering aircraft is a tightly orchestrated evolution, requiring a dizzying number of parts and people. The interior communication electricians (IC) on board the Nimitz play an important part in flight operations through the Improved Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System (IFLOLS) and the Integrated Launch and Recovery Television Surveillance (ILARTS) system. “Basically, IFLOLS is a series of lights the pilots look at when they’re about to land,” said Interior Communication Electrician 3rd Class Arlene Perez, an IFLOLS technician from Brooklyn, N.Y. “There’s a line going across that’s blue and then you have a yellow light in the middle called ‘the meatball’. When
the pilots line them up they know they’re lined up correctly to land.” IFLOLS is such an important part of flight operations that there are three back-up systems in place in case the IFLOLS experiences problems. “During flight operations sometimes an error or critical failure could happen, which could mean flight operations would have to stop,” said Perez. “If that happens, we would rig up the Manually Operated Visual Landing Aid System (MOVLAS). It’s basically a smaller version of the IFLOLS. Everyone in the shop would go man it up, set it up and the landing signal officers would raise it up and down manually.” While such failures can be stressful, it also keeps - Continued on page 3 -
Sailor of the Day
Story and photo by MC3 (SW) Nathan McDonald
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irman Apprentice Miguel Solanoandrade, assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142, was named Sailor of the Day Aug. 26. “I wasn’t expecting it,” said Solanoandrade. “I’m excited about driving the ship. Not many people can say they’ve driven a nuclear powered aircraft carrier.” Solanoandrade earned both his plane captain and Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist qualification while on temporary assigned duty to hotel services. He attributed his success to following orders and doing his best. “I do what I’m told and try to do things the right way the first time I do them,” said Solanoandrade. Commanding Officer Capt. Jeff Ruth
He also spearheaded the efforts of five Sailors in executing 23 launch and recovery operations and 25 daily and turnaround inspections on four EA-6B Prowler aircraft. Solanoandrade cited family as his main source of motivation throughout deployment. “My whole motivation is to go back and see my wife and family,” said Solanoandrade. “The more you work the faster the days go.” He also offered advice to Sailors and Marines seeking the same honor he achieved. “Do what you’re told and always do things the right way,” said Solanoandrade. “Don’t complain and work as a team, too. Communication is key.”
Executive Officer Cmdr. John Cummings
Editor MC2 (SW) Jason Behnke
Command Master Chief CMDCM Teri McIntyre
Public Affairs Officer Lt. Cmdr. Karin Burzynski
Lead Designer MC3 (SW) George J. Penney III
Nimitz News accepts submissions in writing. All submissions are subject to review and screening. ”Nimitz News” is an authorized publication for the members of the military services and their families. Its content does not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, or the Marine Corps and does not imply endorsement thereby.
- Continued from page 1 the job interesting. “Unfortunately, whenever it does break down I like working on it because I like troubleshooting the problem,” said Perez. “Every day I learn more and more when I troubleshoot it.” While IFLOLS provides a visual aid for pilots, the ILARTS system provides visual accountability in case of a mishap. “It’s actually just a set of cameras that monitor the daily and night operations on the flight deck,” said Interior Communication Electrician 3rd Class Tiona Spivey, an ILARTS technician from San Francisco. “There are 10 cameras that monitor the planes coming in and the planes launching in case there are any discrepancies. That way we have evidence if there was some kind of casualty that needed to be investigated. Really, it just monitors everything to make sure everything is being done properly.” While it may sound a bit like Big Brother is watching, ILARTS is primarily in place for safety. “Without it, we wouldn’t be able to find out the cause of a lot of problems that might occur,” said Spivey. “It would be difficult to know what’s going on and we wouldn’t really know where to start the investigation.” Everything is recorded and stored. Recently,
Nimitz implemented new equipment allowing the video information to be stored for a longer period of time. “We usually keep the recordings for a few days, but we actually have this new, experimental system,” said Spivey. “It was just implemented, and it can record for 52 days straight.” The equipment requires constant vigilance and maintenance to keep up. “There is a lot of cleaning that goes into it,” said Spivey. “The filters on the machines get clogged up very fast and the equipment itself can be temperamental. It has to be kept cool or else it will just shut off by itself. We have to clean the lenses every night and make sure they’re clean at all times.” Like Perez, Spivey said the element of the unknown helps keep her work interesting. “It’s exciting sometimes if you have to troubleshoot the equipment,” said Spivey. “It can get interesting when you have to open up the equipment and have no idea what or where a problem is.” Despite the challenges of operating and maintaining the visual landing aid systems, the work can be rewarding. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s pretty cool,” said Spivey. “I get to watch a bunch of TVs every day.”
SAILORS and MARINES COMPete in
CALL OF DUTY TOURNAMENT A Story and photo by MC2 (SW) Devin Wray
fter the last meal of the day was served, and the battle against stains on the tables had been won, another battle began on the mess decks as Sailors and Marines from around the ship gathered Aug. 24 for the final rounds of the ship’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 tournament. “It’s a popular game. People are always online and there’s been a lot of talk about the new game [Call of Duty: Ghosts],” said Personnel Specialist Seaman James Jenkins, who started the tournament through the Junior Enlisted Association (JEA) on board. “Events like this are meant to bring people together and you can see that from the turnout.” With Xbox 360 game consoles provided by the ship’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Department, 18 two-man teams signed up for the tournament, which started Aug. 14. The three-day tournament consisted of rounds being scored on the maximum number of points earned to a specified number or over the course of either ten or 15 minute rounds. One team, earning the highest “kill count” in a single game on the first day of the tournament, advanced to the semi-finals automatically by using a strategy they thought worked best. “A lot of people like to sit back when they play,” said Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 1st Class Rapheal Hobson, a member of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11 who participated in the tournament. “A good way to beat that (strategy) is the complete opposite: a full on rush. You have to play with speed. When you wait on people, it delays your reaction time.”
Another team, choosing to use only pistols throughout their matchups, also made it to the semi-finals. “It’s accurate and it’s fast,” said Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Ryan Boland, with the ship’s Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD). “You see a lot of people playing with grenade launchers or guns where you don’t have to get close. There’s more skill involved with pistols.” Besides challenges players set for themselves, one of the biggest obstacles the teams had to face was the game’s hardcore mode, which makes it harder for players to stay alive in the game. Another obstacle was the “capture-the-flag” match played by the four teams in the semi-finals. “I noticed not everyone really plays that game, plus the fact that it’s on hardcore makes it a handicap for everyone,” said Jenkins. In the end, Hobson and his partner, Operations Specialist 2nd Class Joshua Tremblay, won the tournament with their fast moving strategy, earning a score of 72 – 20 in the final round. “I came in here thinking we were going to win, and that’s how you have to think if you want to win,” said Tremblay. Jenkins said he would like to set up another tournament before the end of the ship’s deployment. He said he would like to facilitate another tournament during Tiger Cruise, where the friends and families of Sailors and Marines will have the chance to ride along with the ship for a few days.
THROUGHTHELE
By MC3 Raul Moreno Jr.
LN2 Pahl Sayeksi certifies a legal document. Sailors place weather guards over a catapult on the flight deck.
BM3 Aaron Mosley, right, directs SN Trevor Barkley, middle, and SN David Herrera, during a replenishment-at-sea.
By MCSN Kole Carpenter
Cpl. Arturo Gonzalez, right, and Cpl. Nehemiah Nunez cut pineapples in the galley.
By MC3 Chris Bartlett
Sailors heave around the phone and distance line on the flight deck during a replenishment-at-sea.
By MCSN Kole Carpenter
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TV
30 nel 29 Ch annel 6 Channel 7 Chan Channel 5 Channel 0800 / 2000 The Ot her Gu ys
The Fiv e ble Nightm are Conv iction Unstoppa Yea r on Elm Eng age men t Str eet
1000 / 2200 Vam pir es Suck 1200 / 0000 You Aga in 1400 / 0200
Ace Ven tur a: When Natur e Calls 1600 / 0400 Du e Dat e 1800 / 0600 How Do You Know
The Wa rrior’s Way
Life of Pi
Goldeney e
Hit & Run
The Town
Me mphis Belle
The Social Net work
The World is Not Enough
The Hunger Ga mes
orrow Hy de Par k Wa ll Str eet: Tom on Hu dson Nev er Money Nev er Dies Sleeps Secretari at
Die Another Day
The Impossible
Fun Size
Ch asing M avericks
Bou rne Leg acy
Abr aha m Lincol n: Vam pir e Hunter One for the Money
ON THE COVER: IC3 Arlene Perez poses in the Visual Landing Aid shop.
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