They are holding what's known as "The Pickle" in the air. When the LSO squeezes the button on the pickle, it activates the wave off sequence and the plane is not allowed to land.
They hold the "pickle" in the air when there is a "foul deck"; as soon as the deck goes green (safe to land aircraft) they put their arm down. If you notice, there is an LSO standing in front of the controling LSO, this is yet another reminder that the deck is not ready. You can hear comments such as "Clear Deck, and they yell at "Cooper" to move back to the platform.
@VikingNomad1 Very informative and thank you!!. Why are there so many LSO's crowding around is it to have mutiple checks and balances? it looked like about 8-10 people there? are the LSO also the senior ranking people in the carrier wing and are they from the same squadron? Its interesting and I am seeking to learn
The reason the LSO gives an opinion (not just a negative one) is so that the pilot can learn and become a better aviator. It's not just to be a critic. The LSO is a very seasoned pilot and is only there to help bring the crew home. It's not just a matter of getting an Okay 3.
LSO's are not "usually" pilots, they "are" active pilots. One cannot be an LSO unless they are Naval Aviators and they have at least one boat tour under their belts.
LSO's are also usually selected because they excel at landing on the carriers as well. This gives them credibility when they are debriefing the pilots on their landings. The debriefs are NOT about the grade, it is about the deviations from optimal glideslope and the corrections that the pilot made during that pass.
@NavyChaps1 Well said Chaps. The LSO also does a face to face de-brief with every Aviator later. Every approach is a heart thumping experience for even the most seasoned pilot... and us flight-deck crewman...HA.
CVW-17 was the wing my squadron, (VA-15) was attached to during the 67-68 cruise on the Forestall. VFA-15 is now with CVW-8 on the TR. Thanks for the video, brings back memories of the 209, A-4C traps.
No, as a matter of fact, I'm a Navy Chaplain, I just slept at a Holiday Express. haha. I'm not totally familiar with the grading system but ana okay/3 is the best grade with a cut pass being the worst grade.
An OK underlined is a 5.0, an OK is a 4.0, a "fair pass" 3.0, etc with a "cut pass" being a 0.0. Minor deviations from optimal glideslope with good corrections is an OK pass. The wire generally will not affect the grade, I have given out OK 1 wires in the past. The glideslope will target the hook impacting the deck midway between the 2 and 3 wire if targetting the 3. I have also given "no grade 3 wire" before due to poor corrections.
Right you are! The first one to land was an F/A 18C "Hornet" (so was the one that got waved off) The second one to land was an F/A 18F "Super Hornet" commonly called the "Rhino" so there's no confusion between a Hornet and a Rhino.
Thanks for the information! A very rare and original video! Definitely gives a different perspective to it all! You don't notice the work and harmony behind it from the other side!
There are at least 10 guys on the LSO platform and three of them have a phone and pickle, is that for training new LSO's? Which one is the active LSO (the one closest to the runway?). What are all those other people doing just standing around?
There needs to be a minimum of 3 LSOs on the platform in order to land planes. One of them has to be a "paddles" (senior aviator who has been an LSO in a previous tour). One of the LSOs (each squadron has two LSOs who are pilots that spend time on the platform) stands in the landing area and shouts out "100" or "10" (you can hear him in the background)
There are normally two other LSOs who are holding the pickles and are talking to the aviator who is landing the plane, they are giving advice "more power, less power etc. The guy with his back to us (bald guy) is the senior paddles and is in charge. The other guys (including myself with the camera) are there as observers.
On the platform there are a total of 4 LSOs, 2 Paddles, 2 Flight Deck Petty Officers (FDPOs)and 4 guests. The 2 FDPO have the helmets on and are standing to the right. 1 has a set of binos and is confirming what type of plane is next coming into the break. The other watches the flight deck to determine when it is clear or fouled. It can be confusing at times but it's a well oiled dance where these professionals know what they're doing.
That is the "pickle switch". I think if they click it then it makes the ball go red, telling the pilot to wave off. They hold their hands up to show that they know that the deck is "dirty" (an airplane hasn't pulled off yet). Well, that is what I think anyway...I didn't serve in the Navy.
Right you are, the "ball" is what the aviators are looking at when they land and it starts flashing (all of the lights on the ball flash) and he's waved off. The deck is called "foul" you can hear one of the Petty Officers yelling "fouled deck" right before they wave off the second hornet.
They are called the "pickle" it has a button on it (like a trigger) that the LSO will push to wave the plane off. When the LSO pushes the pickle, the landing lights start flashing and the pilot knows to apply full power and is being waved off.
Great video, great informative comments too.
Fumbaga 1 week ago
They are holding the" wave off light switch" in the air so that they don't forget to press it when they need to initiate a wave off.
shrivaldo 1 month ago
Naval aviators - Godlike people
PeoplesWar 1 year ago
What are they holding into the air?
djungbremen 2 years ago
They are holding what's known as "The Pickle" in the air. When the LSO squeezes the button on the pickle, it activates the wave off sequence and the plane is not allowed to land.
NavyChaps1 2 years ago
@NavyChaps1 But why is it held up in the air?
ewthmatth 1 year ago
They hold the "pickle" in the air when there is a "foul deck"; as soon as the deck goes green (safe to land aircraft) they put their arm down. If you notice, there is an LSO standing in front of the controling LSO, this is yet another reminder that the deck is not ready. You can hear comments such as "Clear Deck, and they yell at "Cooper" to move back to the platform.
VikingNomad1 2 years ago
@VikingNomad1 Very informative and thank you!!. Why are there so many LSO's crowding around is it to have mutiple checks and balances? it looked like about 8-10 people there? are the LSO also the senior ranking people in the carrier wing and are they from the same squadron? Its interesting and I am seeking to learn
maven21 9 months ago
The reason the LSO gives an opinion (not just a negative one) is so that the pilot can learn and become a better aviator. It's not just to be a critic. The LSO is a very seasoned pilot and is only there to help bring the crew home. It's not just a matter of getting an Okay 3.
NavyChaps1 3 years ago
not to mention an lso is usually an active pilot, who whould much rather be in the cockpit not in a LSO pit....:)
Allenw01101986 3 years ago
LSO's are not "usually" pilots, they "are" active pilots. One cannot be an LSO unless they are Naval Aviators and they have at least one boat tour under their belts.
NavyChaps1 2 years ago
LSO's are also usually selected because they excel at landing on the carriers as well. This gives them credibility when they are debriefing the pilots on their landings. The debriefs are NOT about the grade, it is about the deviations from optimal glideslope and the corrections that the pilot made during that pass.
VikingNomad1 2 years ago
@NavyChaps1 Well said Chaps. The LSO also does a face to face de-brief with every Aviator later. Every approach is a heart thumping experience for even the most seasoned pilot... and us flight-deck crewman...HA.
mgwilliams1000 11 months ago
Comment removed
RunningSwimmingMan 4 months ago
that last landing wasn't very clean. his wings were dipping some. Not the best trap..but a trap nontheless.
odaysailor 4 years ago
CVW-17 was the wing my squadron, (VA-15) was attached to during the 67-68 cruise on the Forestall. VFA-15 is now with CVW-8 on the TR. Thanks for the video, brings back memories of the 209, A-4C traps.
redbaroniii 4 years ago
Ha! I love it when ppl talk about the "Forestfire"
VFA-192 S.S.H.W.F.G.D.
ElPresidente101 4 years ago
about the time the Red Rippers got there super hornets i think . THe second jet that lands is a Red Ripper
ANY TIME BABY!!!!
TURKEYpilot101 4 years ago
That's aboard the USS George Washington isn't it?
UAL012 5 years ago
Good call! This was done last year at around Feb 2006 off the coast of VA.
NavyChaps1 5 years ago
NavyChaps1, Im assuming that your an LSO. I have a question. How are landings graded?
kuyakev 5 years ago
No, as a matter of fact, I'm a Navy Chaplain, I just slept at a Holiday Express. haha. I'm not totally familiar with the grading system but ana okay/3 is the best grade with a cut pass being the worst grade.
NavyChaps1 5 years ago
An OK underlined is a 5.0, an OK is a 4.0, a "fair pass" 3.0, etc with a "cut pass" being a 0.0. Minor deviations from optimal glideslope with good corrections is an OK pass. The wire generally will not affect the grade, I have given out OK 1 wires in the past. The glideslope will target the hook impacting the deck midway between the 2 and 3 wire if targetting the 3. I have also given "no grade 3 wire" before due to poor corrections.
VikingNomad1 2 years ago 2
Thanks for serving Amigo. You guys are great
WakeUpDummies 2 years ago
Right you are! The first one to land was an F/A 18C "Hornet" (so was the one that got waved off) The second one to land was an F/A 18F "Super Hornet" commonly called the "Rhino" so there's no confusion between a Hornet and a Rhino.
NavyChaps1 5 years ago
NavyChaps1,
Do you have more LSO video? This is great stuff.
joejoeboston 5 years ago
No, I wish I did. It's the only time I took a camera up to the platform with me. There are thousands of other moving parts all below deck as well.
NavyChaps1 5 years ago
Thanks for the information! A very rare and original video! Definitely gives a different perspective to it all! You don't notice the work and harmony behind it from the other side!
KuostA 5 years ago
NavyChaps1,
There are at least 10 guys on the LSO platform and three of them have a phone and pickle, is that for training new LSO's? Which one is the active LSO (the one closest to the runway?). What are all those other people doing just standing around?
Thanks!
joejoeboston 5 years ago
There needs to be a minimum of 3 LSOs on the platform in order to land planes. One of them has to be a "paddles" (senior aviator who has been an LSO in a previous tour). One of the LSOs (each squadron has two LSOs who are pilots that spend time on the platform) stands in the landing area and shouts out "100" or "10" (you can hear him in the background)
NavyChaps1 5 years ago
There are normally two other LSOs who are holding the pickles and are talking to the aviator who is landing the plane, they are giving advice "more power, less power etc. The guy with his back to us (bald guy) is the senior paddles and is in charge. The other guys (including myself with the camera) are there as observers.
NavyChaps1 5 years ago
On the platform there are a total of 4 LSOs, 2 Paddles, 2 Flight Deck Petty Officers (FDPOs)and 4 guests. The 2 FDPO have the helmets on and are standing to the right. 1 has a set of binos and is confirming what type of plane is next coming into the break. The other watches the flight deck to determine when it is clear or fouled. It can be confusing at times but it's a well oiled dance where these professionals know what they're doing.
NavyChaps1 5 years ago
That is the "pickle switch". I think if they click it then it makes the ball go red, telling the pilot to wave off. They hold their hands up to show that they know that the deck is "dirty" (an airplane hasn't pulled off yet). Well, that is what I think anyway...I didn't serve in the Navy.
joejoeboston 5 years ago 2
Right you are, the "ball" is what the aviators are looking at when they land and it starts flashing (all of the lights on the ball flash) and he's waved off. The deck is called "foul" you can hear one of the Petty Officers yelling "fouled deck" right before they wave off the second hornet.
NavyChaps1 5 years ago
what are those things the LSOs hold up after the landing?...they look like triggers
kuyakev 5 years ago
They are called the "pickle" it has a button on it (like a trigger) that the LSO will push to wave the plane off. When the LSO pushes the pickle, the landing lights start flashing and the pilot knows to apply full power and is being waved off.
NavyChaps1 5 years ago