Soft Landings Start Here

the

SHUTTLE USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - Wednesday, May 4, 2011

soft landings start here Photo by MCSN Jared M. King

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

the SHUTTLE

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Enterprise News

CATCC Sailors ensure pilots land safely

By MCSN Jared M. King USS Enterprise Public Affairs

USS ENTERPRISE, At sea – Rain or shine, day and night, aircraft aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) continue to launch and land in support of Operation New Dawn in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility May 2, 2011.

Thirty-five Sailors are responsible for the safe and precise arrival of every aircraft launched and recovered aboard Big ‘E’s flight deck every day and have coordinated more than 5,000 successful landings since the beginning of deployment.

These Sailors work in the ship’s Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC), which coordinates the movement of every aircraft in the airspace around Enterprise.

CATCC Sailors encounter and overcome numerous challenges during any given day of flight operations. These challenges can range from weather issues to equipment casualties or “bolters,” where an aircraft’s tailhook does not catch an arresting wire.

On-the-job experience goes hand-in-hand with training and qualifications for CATCC Sailors. These Sailors must earn many types of controller qualifications including radar final controller, case-three departure controller and marshal controller.

“We have increased our qualifications by more than 200 percent since I checked on board a month ago,” said Lt.

Photo by MCSN Jared M. King

Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class (AW) Andrew Pepper, an approach controller, communicates with pilots during bad weather operations from the Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65).

j.g. Spencer Hughes, CATCC’s division officer. “Our training has evolved so much—we now have a seasoned team that continues to get better.”

A radar final controller aids the pilots to arrive on a precise glide path in preparation for the sudden halt of an arrested landing. This glide path gives the pilots an the best chance of catching the arresting wire while providing the greatest safety margin, preventing injury to the ship, aircraft and most importantly the pilots.

CATCC’s mission does not fall on the shoulders of any single controller. From the most junior airman to the most senior officer, every member of the team is essential to the safety and efficiency of flight deck operations.

“On a daily basis, we control all of the aircraft from 50 miles around the ship to within three

quarters of a mile, line them up and aim for 60-second intervals to land,” said Hughes. “It’s ideal to have a plane hit the deck every minute, and it takes a total team effort.”

The job of an air traffic controller is often stressful and difficult, with many things that could go wrong if one Sailor is not paying attention. Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class (AW) Andrew Pepper said every Sailor in the division must be present in order to coordinate launches and recoveries, no matter what time of day or night.

“When the air wing launches an alert, we have to be here,” said Pepper. “The entire division must be here to launch the alerts, and after the alerts to guide the aircraft safely back to the flight deck.”

Pepper, the air operations supervisor, dedicates long

hours and sleepless nights to his demanding job. He said the most rewarding part of his job is to see the pilots come back safely.

“My mission is to make sure everyone gets back on board safely and to keep the aircraft far enough apart,” said Pepper.

“I enjoy being an air traffic controller and am really proud to say I am an Enterprise Sailor.”

Cmdr. Charles Broomfield, air operations officer aboard Enteprise, said that supervising air traffic controllers is one of the most rewarding jobs on the ship.

“Watching these young sailors shoulder the responsibility of aiding Carrier Air Wing One pilots to a safe recovery after an extended combat mission in support of [Operation Enduring Freedom] is absolutely awesome. They remind me daily why the U.S. Navy is unstoppable,” Broomfield said.

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the SHUTTLE

Sailors of the Day

Culinary Specialist Seaman

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Aviation Machinist’s Mate Airman

Lawrence Famighette- Melville, New York

Aime Gashema- Bristow, Virginia

CSSN Famighette, a 3M maintenance person for Enterprise’s supply division, joined the Navy two years ago to better himself. He says the most rewarding part of his job is when he has the opportunity to fix something broken, so “someone can see the good job I did and know they can count on me.” Famighette plans on getting his Surface Warfare Specialist pin while on deployment and would like to cross-rate if given the opportunity. While he plans on staying Navy, Famighette would like to become a New York City firefighter if he doesn’t. When Famighette comes home from deployment, he plans on “spending time with my wife, going to the gym, playing my saxaphone and fixing cars.”

ADAN Gashema, a F/A-18E plane captain for Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136, says he joined the Navy two years ago to better himself and “try something different.”

Gashema says the most rewarding part of his job is “being the first and last person to talk to the pilot before and after the flight, and making sure the aircraft is safe for flight.”

Gashema wants to finish his bachelor’s degree in biology/ pre-med so he may become an anesthesiologist, like his father. In his spare time, Gashema like to play the piano, listen to music and work out.

FUN ZONE!

Photos by MCSN Jesse L. Gonzalez

Down 1 Balled-up hand 2 Distant leader 3 Furies, in Greek myth 4 German songs 5 Tried mightily 6 Bear 7 Chinese pan 8 Footnote abbr.

9 Equus and others 10 Secretly 11 Designer Calvin 12 Crimson-clad 13 Bamboo eater 21 Merchandise 23 Cricket sound 25 Jock 27 Run for it 28 Melodies 30 Start of a Web site address 33 Crow calls 35 Subject for St. Thomas Aquinas 36 Kill __ killed 37 Opposite of ja 39 Heat-resistant glass 40 Code of conduct 43 Consents 47 Logging on requirement 49 “Good Wives” author 50 Code word for S 51 Russian country house 52 Zhou __ 53 Render defenseless 55 Befuddled 57 Hans Christian Andersen, for one 59 Burden 60 Just 63 Variety of Buddhism

Across

1 Has a hunch 6 Quaff 10 Captain, informally 14 Phrase of resignation 15 One of Hamlet’s options 16 Bone of the forearm 17 Locale of ancient Ur 18 Similar

19 Swiss capital 32 Genuine 48 Make tracks 20 Restrain 34 Novarro of silents 51 Low cards 22 Disparaged 38 Afore 54 Desdemona’s faithful 24 Sagebrush State 39 Church book servant 26 “Help me __” (Beach 41 Mineral source 56 Taken over, in a way Boys hit) 42 Homework assignment 58 15th century Italian 27 More equitable 44 Cried painter 29 Bangkok residents 45 Ballpark figure 61 Dressed 31 Jar top 46 Pie part 62 Bronx cheer

64 Actor-director Welles 66 Don Juan’s mother 67 Test 68 Objectives 69 Contradict 70 Actress Jessica .