ABSTRACT
Initial aviation operation off ships by UK Royal Navy and US Navy. Other navies with successful shipboard/maritime aviation include Japan, Russia, India, Italy, Thailand and France. Steam catapult revolutionized shipboard aviation by launching heavier aircraft with higher takeoff speeds and heavier payloads; next-gen catapults utilise mag-lev technology. Rotary wing aircraft allow for operations on smaller platforms and function as a rescue unit during carrier fixed wing operations. Noise and vibration transmitted throughout hull of ship; vibration and noise can damage hearing and disrupt crew rest/sleep. Prolonged separation of military deployment coupled with loss of privacy in close quarters can exacerbate mental health issues and social problems. Aviation medicine assets are principal providers of health service support to the ship’s crew and embarked personnel. Limited resources necessitate urgent/emergent medevac for some injuries/illnesses. Rotary wing medevac limited to littoral operations, but many aviation capable ships operate well outside these regions.
