55-3012.00
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.
AI will partially reshape this role
Safer than 56% of occupations we track
Disruption Vector
Hybrid Threat
Both AI software and physical automation threaten different aspects of this role, creating a compound risk from multiple directions.
Aircraft launch and recovery specialists perform highly technical deck operations on naval carriers—directing aircraft, operating launch catapults, and managing arrested landings in demanding sea states. AI-assisted launch and recovery sequencing tools (like the Navy's ALRE program) are in development, but the physical, safety-critical nature of these operations requires trained specialists. The 2025-2027 outlook is stable; carrier aviation continues operating with human deck crews through this period.
Salary & Job Outlook
AI Risk Timeline
Projection model: Based on current AI capability growth rates. High-risk occupations are projected to see compounding automation pressure, while human-centric roles show slower risk accumulation. These are statistical projections, not guarantees.
Skills Analysis — AI Vulnerability
Career Pivot Paths
If you're a Aircraft Launch and Recovery Specialists, consider pivoting toward these lower-risk roles:
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Aircraft Launch and Recovery Specialists
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You're safer than a First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services but riskier than a Security Management Specialists.
This analysis is for informational purposes only and is based on statistical models and academic research. It does not constitute career advice and is not a guarantee of future employment outcomes. AI impact varies significantly by employer, region, and individual circumstances. Learn about our methodology →