Systems & Software Talk 

This is more about a human's performance and less about a digital computer's performance. The sailor in this story simply wanted to improve the TV Signal-to-Air Conditioner Noise ratio. He was watching American Graffitti and probably for the 50th time. Movie distribution to and circulation among the fleet was as efficient as Windows-XP. "Please wait - for a long time!" I pity modern day sailors stuck with a film such as "Crossroads", for months at a time.

When and Where: Aboard USS Midway CV-41 about 150 miles south of Tokyo Bay in 1981. Kim Carnes was singing about Bette Davis eyes. John Lennon was singing about something that I would soon be doing after the below ordeal – "Starting Over".

Why: Certification + Operational Test & Evaluation (OPTEVAL) of the Aircraft Carrier Landing System – a system designed to land aircraft automatically.

Who/Scope: Support came from many skill sets – RADAR technicians, Computer technicians, Systems Analysts, Pilots and the instrumented aircraft they ferried from Patuxent River, MD., aircraft technicians from the manufacturers, and on and on. They came from around the world. They came from Maryland, Virginia, California, Hawaii, The Philippines, and Japan. In other words, this was a multi-million-dollar undertaking.

System Background: Two computerized Precision Approach RADAR Air Traffic Controllers manned (PAR) consoles. Two vintage 1960’s era CP-848 (a.k.a. Univac 1219) computers allocated to do all the calculations, adjust for ship’s motion, wind-speed/direction, drive the PAR channels, the two displays, and - issue command/control information to the aircraft. For you MIL buffs – the Army-Navy nomenclature is/was AN/SPN-42 a.k.a. ACLS.

The computers were large. They had intake vents at the top front to suck in cold air from an air conditioning vent about a foot away. This was an interesting field modification to extend their operability beyond the inherent overheating problem that would occur at about 78 degrees F.

Univac 1219

The computers were in a compartment several compartments distant from the Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC) where the PAR was located. There was a Navy computer technician on duty here during operations.

My role: Coordinate all aspects of the operation to get the OPTEVAL accomplished.

Scenario: Aircraft would approach the ship from a holding pattern where they had been holding (burning precious fuel) until the ship was readied for operations. The weather at the time was less than ideal with rain and visibility of about 4 miles. The GO signal was issued. The aircraft (AC) commenced their approach and soon the first AC was acquired by the SPN-42 PAR at about 4 miles. The second AC was 2 miles behind and would soon be acquired by the other SPN-42 PAR channel.