Military55-3012.00Specialization

Aircraft Launch and Recovery Specialists

Operate and maintain catapults, arresting gear, and associated mechanical, hydraulic, and control systems involved primarily in aircraft carrier takeoff and landing operations. Duties include installing and maintaining visual landing aids; testing and maintaining launch and recovery equipment using electric and mechanical test equipment and hand tools; activating airfield arresting systems, such as crash barriers and cables, during emergency landing situations; directing aircraft launch and recovery operations using hand or light signals; and maintaining logs of airplane launches, recoveries, and equipment maintenance.

N/A
Median Pay
1-3 years
Training
🟑
AI-Augmented

This is a specialization of

Military Enlisted Careers

AI Impact Assessment

AI Resilience Score

Score 3/6: high AI task exposure, strong human advantage means AI will assist but humans remain essential (estimated from legacy data)

🟑AI-Augmented

How we calculated this:

AI Exposure
High+0

63% of tasks can be accelerated by AI

Job Growth
Stable+1

0% projected (2024-2034)

Human Advantage
Strong+2

EPOCH score: 20/25

Total Score3/6
Methodology: v2.0 - GPTs are GPTs / BLS / EPOCH Additive ScoringUpdated: 2026-01-09

Education & Training

Typical Entry Education

Bachelor's degree

Time to Job Ready

1-3 years

Based on Job Zone 3. For formal education duration only, see education_duration.

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Also Known As

Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment Maintenance TechnicianAircraft Launch and Recovery TechnicianArresting Gear OperatorAviation Boatswain's MateAviation Boatswain's Mate, Launching & Recovery EquipmentC-13 Catapult OperatorExpeditionary Airfield Systems Technician

Data from O*NET 30.1 and BLS Occupational Employment Statistics

O*NET Code: 55-3012.00