Life aboard a $13 billion aircraft carrier: A day with US Navy pilots

Hello everyone and welcome back to the Fluctus channel. Navy pilots assigned to any of the nine squadrons on an aircraft carrier's air wing spend months in a unique work environment unlike any other in the world. An aircraft carrier flight deck holds many moving parts and each crew member, sailor, or aviator must follow strict procedures to ensure the safety of the numerous personnel and aircraft on board the pilot's duties are crucial to the overall success of any flight operation his typical working day starts with detailed pre-flight briefings with steiner smitty if anybody has any issues speak up in a minute make sure we have proper smokes in the aircraft in case we have to do a star or something like that mission profile just getting finished with uh this usually includes a briefing from the carrier intelligence center and covers any flight related information such as current and forecasted weather the ship's current and forecasted position critical operations in the given area recent data from the intelligence analysis combat search and rescue report divert airfield data as well as the general operating conditions in the location after the debriefing the flight crew proceeds to the maintenance control to review the aircraft discrepancy book special attention is given to the a-sheet and checking off the correct basic fuel weight and store loads the weight sheet is then delivered to flight deck control as the pilot moves to the aircraft for takeoff at the aircraft the pilot will conduct normal visual pre-flight checks in accordance with the carrier's standard operating procedures. The flight crew begin by checking the area around the aircraft for foreign object debris, leaking or pooling fluid, and the general external condition of the aircraft. After embarking, they conduct normal cockpit inspections and checks. When taxiing, the pilot must precisely follow the signals from the flight director to ensure proper spotting on the catapults. When the aircraft is ready, steam from the ship's reactor is ported to fill the catapult cylinder. The force produced by the steam is powerful enough to sling the aircraft forward with enough velocity to generate lift or takeoff. This system propels the aircraft from zero to 165 miles per hour in two seconds. On occasion, aircraft carrier aviators and other personnel have the privilege of performing an air show for distinguished visitors. Here, they perform several maneuvers, which include takeoffs, flybys, and landings. The Navy also performs a fast roping exercise out of a Sikorsky Seahawk or other aircraft with hovering capabilities. This technique allows troops to deploy from a helicopter in places where an aircraft touchdown is not possible. Being a naval aviator on an aircraft carrier is one thing, but the process of becoming one is quite another. In general, all naval aviators are officers. In order to become a naval officer, an aspiring aviator must obtain a bachelor's degree from an accredited college. The aspiring aviator must then become a commissioned officer by enrolling in the Reserve Officers Training Corps ROTC during college where they obtain foundational skills for a role as a naval officer. Another option is to pursue officer candidate school. This is a 12-week training program where aspiring naval aviators will learn the basic regulations and rules for being an officer in the navy. They will also take part in an intensive physical conditioning program. Yet another option is to attend the u.s naval academy which ranks as one of the hardest institutions to get into the naval academy only accepts around nine percent of total applicants this translates to approximately 1,200 aspiring naval officers each year the aspiring naval aviator must pass the aviation selection test battery which consists of five sections including mathematics spatial perception and mechanical comprehension. Aspiring naval aviators are evaluated in an introductory flight screening. Afterward, they spend six weeks in a classroom studying navigation, engines, aviation physiology, and aerodynamics. Now the candidate can begin their primary flight training. During this flight training, candidates receive hands-on instruction with a T-34C, the navy's main training aircraft the t-34c turbo mentor has been used since the 1970s and has trained countless naval aviators prior to them flying the fa-18 super hornet the student will have spent over 100 hours in the T-34C or a simulator primary flight training they learn basic flight skills particularly aerobatics night flying and how to fly in formation primary flight training is where the aviators hone their skills once completed the aviator can choose what aircraft to specialize in the type of aircraft the naval aviator selects will determine the flight time required to complete their training in recent years preparing pilots for the real thing has gotten easier than ever this is largely due to advancements in simulator technology flight simulators like this one for the F-35 are a great way to showcase the capabilities of an aircraft in a safe and controlled environment this is especially important for a highly advanced fighter jet like the F-35 which is a big step forward in technology from older aircraft models it is also an important tool for training inexperienced pilots without putting them inside a real F-35 or exposing them to any real danger. These full cockpit simulators are surrounded by large digital screens that further increase immersion. This makes it much easier for pilots to familiarize themselves with exactly how the F-35 works. After simulator training, pilots will undergo further training inside a real F-35 Lightning II. This takes place at the F-35 Academic Training Center at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. Here, practical flight training missions are completed every day, but pilots also participate in in-class learning and the use of scaled-down desktop simulators. Luke Air Force Base also has 12 full-size simulator bases all of which are even more advanced than the preliminary version seen before the U.S. Air Force believes that all this preparation will result in pilots that are truly ready to take on any challenge with the large-scale advancements in the aviation industry surprisingly one of the most advanced technologies of all is not part of a plane but part of the pilot's equipment. It's the F-35's state-of-the-art $400,000 helmet, which must be very carefully fitted to each pilot to work properly. This is because the helmet contains special optics that must be perfectly aligned to the distance of the pilot's pupils. This gives them access to a display that provides mission-critical information and improves their overall situational awareness. As they move their head, they can essentially get an electronic view of the battlefield at all times. The fit is also important to ensure pilots get a proper oxygen supply at all times. While advanced helmets alongside classroom and simulator training are undoubtedly essential to any pilot, readiness drills are among the most crucial activities of any Air Force base. This typically involves pilots and ground crews practicing scrambling, which is when they must go from resting to flight ready in as short a time as possible. Though this requires a lot of coordination and energy to pull off, it is essential to ensure crews are ready to tackle offensive and defensive situations quickly and efficiently. After all, Attacks can happen at any time. That's why scramble exercises are done at all times. The more practice pilots get, the better they will perform in real-life combat situations. As military aviation continues to unveil greater marvels in the form of fighter jets with greater combat capabilities, it is certain that pilot training and general readiness will continue to take center stage as more aspiring aviators must be properly drilled for these heroic responsibilities. That's the end of this video. I hope you enjoyed it. Make sure to subscribe to this channel so you don't miss any of our new content. See you next time.