Our LSO watch is specifically designed for Landing Signal Officers (LSO) to improve their efficiency in timing groove length of aircrafts on board Aircraft Carriers. The Landing Signal Officer, is in charge of the safe and expeditious recovery of aircraft both day and night onboard US aircraft carriers.
This patented design features color indicators on the chapter ring to aid LSOs in timing groove length. Groove length time starts when the aircraft rolls wings level, and finishes when it touches down on the carrier deck. The goal is to land quickly and safely within the green indicator. The LSO then determines a pilot's grade based on this and other factors such as glideslope and lineup.
Every time an aircraft touches down on a carrier, the pilot receives a grade. This practice helps prevent complacency and establishes a baseline on which the pilot can improve. In Naval Aviation its all about efficiency. An aircraft needs to land every 60 seconds in order for the ship to recover the planes airborne, and still allow the last aircraft enough fuel to land. To do this, the aircraft fly a very tight pattern around the ship. When the aircraft rolls out on their final approach, they target 15-18 seconds of flying. This starts when they roll wings level out of their approach turn, to when their wheels touchdown on the carrier. If they are less than 15-18 seconds, it is unsafe and very difficult to land. If they are more than 15-18 seconds, they are prolonging the recovery period and not being as efficient as possible. For that reason, LSO's use groove length timing for each aircraft. This timing was applied to our LSO watch using our UNIQUE dial design, to aid in keeping track and accurately timing each pass.
The green indicator, representing a groove length of 15-18 seconds, is the goal. If a pilot is slightly outside that parameter, in the yellow, it is considered a "little" deviation. A groove length of 12-14 seconds is considered "a little not enough straightaway" (NESA) and 19-21 seconds is "a little long in the groove" (LIG). The brown color indicates a "full" deviation. A groove length of 9-11 seconds is considered "full not enough straightaway" NESA, and 22-24 seconds is considered "full long in the groove" LIG. The red color indicates an "underlined" deviation: _LIG_ or _NESA_.
Our watches are being worn right now by aviators on deployment all around the world. We hope that you enjoy the watch as much as they do!
