NAVAL SHIPS' TECHNICAL MANUAL CHAPTER 588 AIRCRAFT ELEVATORS

NAVAL SHIPS’ TECHNICAL MANUAL CHAPTER 588 AIRCRAFT ELEVATORS

Aircraft elevators are designed primarily to transport aircraft between the hangar deck and the flight deck. They are, however, also used to transport cargo and equipment. Aircraft elevators are found on aircraft carriers and on some amphibious assault ships such as LHA’s, LPH’s and LHD’s. All aircraft elevators use hydraulic engines, sheaves and wire ropes to lift and lower the platform. Inboard and deck edge are the two major types of aircraft elevators. These names refer to the location of the elevator platform on the ship. Inboard elevators are located inside the hull of the ship. Figure 588-1-1 illustrates one type of inboard aircraft elevator. Deck edge elevators are more common and are located just outboard of the hull. A typical deck edge elevator is illustrated in Figure 588-1-2. The machinery for inboard and deck edge elevators operate under the same principles and are similar in arrangement.