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Kitty Hawk PALS Certified Safe to Recover Aircraft

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060605-17
Release Date: 6/5/2006 5:24:00 PM

By Journalist 2nd Class Christopher Koons, USS Kitty Hawk Public Affairs

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- While underway to conduct carrier qualifications, USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) completed a required certification May 30 and is once again certified for aircraft recovery.

The Precision Approach Landing System (PALS), a computerized program used to aid pilots in finding and landing on the ship, is subject to review every two years by representatives from the Navy’s Ship’s Suitability Office.

“PALS is composed of three different systems,” said Lt. Reid Wiseman, a test pilot for the group. “It integrates ACLS (Automatic Carrier Landing System), ICLS (Instrument Carrier Landing System) and IFLOLS (Improved Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System). PALS takes all of these systems and makes sure they are aligned within specifications.”

A team of 16 experts from the office came aboard Kitty Hawk to assess the state of the ship’s PALS. As part of their assessment, the suitability team conducted a series of tests to ensure all aspects of the program were fully functional.

“We inspected IFLOLS first, and then we checked ACLS to ensure the ship’s radars worked properly and they could control the aircraft properly,” said Wiseman. “Lastly, we tweaked ICLS to align with the ACLS.”

To accomplish these tests, Wiseman and the other test pilots used aircraft from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27 and VFA-192 to conduct launch and recovery operations on Kitty Hawk’s flight deck.

“During the test landings, our engineers observed the ship’s radar control, computers, meteorology equipment, deck motion and other factors,” he said.

According to Brandon Jones, chief engineer for the suitability team, the certification process involved extensive coordination between the team and Kitty Hawk’s crew.

“The most challenging part was integrating our technical flight requirements with the ship’s operational requirements,” said Jones. “Everyone we worked with on the ship gave us what we needed to complete our job.”

It was this sense of teamwork that contributed the most to Kitty Hawk being certified, said Chief Aviation Electronics Technician (SW/AW) Dan Bramos, leading chief petty officer for the suitability team.

“We received great support all around. Everyone from the wardroom staff to the commanding officer went out of their way to help us,” he said. “The support from [Carrier Air Wing 5] was also outstanding.”