The video shows a pilot taxiing a carrier aircraft to the fantail and turning it around. The pilot narrates the movements and the director's signals.
What the video covers
Written in our own words. It only describes what the video shows and says.The video is a first-person account of an aircraft moving on an aircraft carrier. The pilot says that ground crew follow the aircraft as it taxis toward the fantail so they can chock and chain it and get it ready to go. As the aircraft comes forward, the pilot notes a C2 Greyhound off the left wing, another Super Hornet, and an additional Hawkeye in front of the island. The pilot says the aircraft was told to stop, but a new director says come forward. The pilot continues forward while looking for the new director, who is far down toward the fantail.
Taxiing toward the fantail
The pilot describes passing a Seahawk helicopter area, which he calls the junkyard, in front of the tower, the island, and the aircraft carrier. He sees a forklift on the left-hand side and another Hawkeye just in front of the island. The aircraft then passes over the four wire, and the pilot says it is a little bumpy. The director again says come forward, then passes the aircraft off toward the fantail. The pilot continues over the three wire, which is also a little bumpy, and then over the two wire and the ace, or one wire, as the aircraft goes all the way to the back of the ship. The pilot makes a little right-hand turn and sees the director just underneath the canopy bow, on the left-hand side, who tells the aircraft to stop.
Repositioning the director
The pilot explains that the director will reposition himself on the right side, about one o'clock or two o'clock, so he can see how close the aircraft will get to the fantail. The pilot says this is to prevent the director from telling the aircraft to get too close and, in the pilot's words, God forbid taxi off the ship. The director then says come forward. The pilot describes a little dance between himself and the director to see how close the aircraft can get to the end of the ship without falling off, in order to turn the aircraft around. The aircraft comes forward while the pilot watches the director.
Turning at the fantail
The pilot turns right and sees a helicopter coming in to land off the nose. He continues forward with small right-hand turns while the director remains on the right-hand side. A new director is on the right side, and the pilot keeps the turn in and keeps the power up while turning. The pilot keeps coming forward, then sees the director just beyond the left mirror say stop. The pilot says that signal means the aircraft will be chocked and chained where it is. The pilot says he is glad that it is over.
