Research for Aircraft Carriers

In September 1994, after months of unsuccessful diplomatic negotiations to restore the legally elected president of Haiti, the United States undertook the forcible removal of the military junta then in power. As part of this effort, two aircraft carriers (CVs) left Norfolk with a rather unusual mission. The fixed-wing aircraft and most of the air-wing personnel assigned to each of the CVs had been removed to make room for joint (mostly Army) assault forces and the helicopters to carry and support them. These forces were to have been the cutting edge of the planned assault of Haiti. This report contains observations of the operation of those forces from the CVs, with an emphasis on air operations.

This information manual provides quantitative information on the post-Vietnam era history of deployments by U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and other surface ships. The data, summarized in tables and figures, span the years 1976 through 1988 and describe the geographic distribution of U.S. Navy ships in an attempt to gauge U.S. Navy presence around the world.

CNA is developing the Aviation Logistics Model (ALM), a simulation model of aviation maintenance and supply aboard an aircraft carrier. The model will be used to support CNA's effort to improve supply and repair policies. ALM is based on a new methodology designed to take full advantage of the structured maintenance and supply data collected on Visual Information Display System-Maintenance Action Forms (VIDS-MAFs). This research memorandum shows the directions being taken during the development process and assumptions being built into the model. It contains an overview of the idea behind the model and the intended use of the model, and a technical description of the current direction of model development.

This report proposes flight and hangar deck layouts for carriers that would take advantage of the design opportunities offered by nuclear power. The arrangement proposes, among other things, a recovery area located amidship, an island located on the stern, and a bilevel hangar bay. Benefits of the new arrangement include improved operational efficiency, safety, and cost. The conceptual CV (CCV) would provide a more efficient airfield than exists on present carriers. Several factors contribute to this expected increased operational efficiency: improving the flow pattern of aircraft on the flight deck; increasing the rate of aircraft landings; enhancing administration of the flight deck; and permitting air operations in higher sea states. Because the proposed flight deck permits redesigning the hangar bay, the ships' aircraft capacity can be increased.