What to Expect
More Information
Responsibilities
Aircraft Handling Officers directs flight and hangar deck operations aboard carrier, including spotting, landing and launching aircraft and handling crashes and fires. Their responsibilities include:
- Directing flight deck officer and hangar deck officer
- Supervising elevator operations between flight and hangar decks
- Directing aircraft spotting for catapult launching and flyaway
- Directing training of personnel in techniques of spotting, plane handling, recovering and jettisoning planes, rescue of pilots and combatting fires on aircraft, flight decks and hangar decks
- Establishing safety practices
Work Environment
As a Navy Aircraft Handling Officer, you’ll make the world your home. You may be assigned to sea or shore squadrons on almost any continent. You will have the opportunity to work in a variety of environments – from airborne aircraft to hangars, hangar decks to flight decks, and flight lines at air stations and on aircraft carriers.
Training & Advancement
Those pursuing an Aircraft Handling Officer position are required to attend Officer Development School (ODS) in Newport, RI. ODS is a five-week program that provides a comprehensive and intense introduction to the responsibilities of Navy Staff Corps Officers. Here they learn about the military structure of the U.S. Navy, its rich history of traditions and customs, leadership development and military etiquette.
Once that training is complete, Aircraft Handling Officers will need to attend Aviation School in Pensacola, FL, for a specialized training program.
Advanced technical and operational training in the aviation field is also available as part of your career development, preparing you for any number of future civilian careers with airports, airline industries, government and law enforcement agencies, aircraft manufacturers and more.
Promotion opportunities are regularly available but competitive and based on performance.
Post-Service Opportunities
Specialized training received and work experience gained in the course of service can lead to valuable credentialing and occupational opportunities in related fields in the civilian sector.
Education Opportunities
Wherever you are in your professional career, the Navy can help ease your financial burdens and advance your career with generous financial assistance and continuing education programs. Opportunities for further education within this platform include:
Qualifications & Requirements
You may not immediately enter the Navy as a Handling Officer. You must serve in a variety of other aviation-related Officer roles before you are promoted to this position.
A degree from a four-year college or university is a minimum educational requirement to become a Commissioned Officer. You must also attend Officer Training. There may be exceptions to the degree requirements based on extensive service experience.
General qualifications may vary depending upon whether you’re currently serving, whether you’ve served before or whether you’ve never served before.
Part-Time Opportunities
There are part-time opportunities available as an Aircraft Handling Officer.
Serving part-time as a Navy Reserve Sailor, your duties will be carried out during your scheduled drilling and training periods. During monthly drilling, Aircraft Handling Officers in the Navy Reserve typically work at a location close to their homes.
For annual training, Aircraft Handling Officers may serve anywhere in the world, whether on a ship at sea or at bases and installations on shore.
Take a moment to learn more about the general roles and responsibilities of Navy Reserve Sailors.
Most of what you do in the Navy Reserve is considered training. The basic Navy Reserve commitment involves training a minimum of one weekend a month (referred to as drilling) and two weeks a year (referred to as Annual Training) – or the equivalent of that.
Aircraft Handling Officers in the Navy Reserve serve in an Officer role. Before receiving the ongoing professional training that comes with this job, initial training requirements must first be met.
For current or former Navy Officers (NAVET): Prior experience satisfies the initial leadership training requirement – so you will not need to go through Officer Training again.
For current or former Officers of military branches other than the Navy (OSVET), as well as for Officer candidates without prior military experience: Officer candidates are required to attend Officer Development School (ODS) in Newport, RI. ODS is a five-week program that provides a comprehensive and intense introduction to the responsibilities of Navy Staff Corps Officers. Officers who previously held a commission in another United States Military Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Public Health Service, or United States Coast Guard are exempt from attending ODS or LDO/CWO Academy.