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Enterprise VLA Team is Vital to Successful Flight Operations

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110312-10
3/12/2011

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Rebekah Adler, USS Enterprise Public Affairs

USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Enterprise's (CVN 65) Visual Landing Aids (VLA) team continued its ongoing mission of keeping a watchful eye on all aspects of the carrier's flight operations, March 11.

The VLA team is comprised of 15 Sailors who are responsible for maintaining and operating the flight deck's seven cameras, composed of two subsystems: the Integrated Launch and Recovery Television Surveillance System (ILARTS) and the Improved Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System (IFLOLS).

"Pilots use IFLOLS to make sure they land safely on the flight deck," said Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class (SW/AW) William Avery, VLA group supervisor technician. "Anytime there's a bird in the air, I have someone manning the ILARTS console and island camera. We're there until the last aircraft touches the deck."

Even when aircraft are not being launched from the flight deck, ILARTS technicians are behind the cameras, capturing all events, such as helicopter evolutions and training drills.

"We're like the 'Big Brother' of the flight deck; we're always watching," said Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Eugene Batiste, ILARTS technician. "If I see someone dropping [Foreign Object Debris] or a person getting blown over by a jet blast, I'll record the action with my camera. Anything that happens, I've got it covered."

Through the ILARTS technicians' trained and watchful eyes, they help provide evidence for mishaps ranging from a downed aircraft to flight deck fires.

"Without our footage, there would be no way of knowing what truly happened, how big a fire was, or how long it took to put out," said Batiste. "It's an important part of history that would be lost."

In order to perform their jobs successfully, ILARTS technicians must first go through six months of in-depth training located at Great Lakes, Ill. In addition to learning about the VLA system, the technicians learn every aspect of flight deck operations and landing procedures.

Even when flight operations have ended, the ILARTS technicians are still on the job, making sure their equipment is fully operational for the next day's flights.

"If our systems are not up, we don't fly," said Avery. "After flight quarters have ended, we spend an average of three hours daily, maintaining our equipment."

Additionally, footage captured by the ILARTS technicians serves as a learning tool for pilots.

"Some footage we've recorded goes to the schoolhouse to help teach pilots why a mistake occurred and how to fix it," said Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Richard Stainton.

"When I reflect on everything I've done, it's rewarding to know I was a part of that process that contributes to the crew's safety," said Batiste.

Enterprise is currently deployed on its 21st deployment.