Weapons system officer
As weapons system officer (WSO) ( English Weapon Systems Officer ) (abbr .: Wizzo ), the second crew member in two-seat fighter aircraft or combat helicopters , respectively. Until the end of World War II , the term observer was common in Germany .
In the German Air Force , weapons system officers are deployed on the Panavia Tornado weapon system . Other well-known two-seat aircraft types with WSO are the F-4 F Phantom , Sukhoi Su-24 , F-14 Tomcat , General Dynamics F-111 , McDonnell Douglas F-15 E Strike Eagle and F / A-18 B / D / F (Super) Hornet .
tasks
The WSO's profile of activities is multifaceted and includes a number of tasks and activities that depend on the type of aircraft and the respective operational role in each specific case:
As a non-controlling member of the cockpit crew, the WSO always exercises the monitoring and supportive function of a Pilot Non Flying (PNF) (checklist, operating communication and navigation systems and monitoring compliance with flight parameters). In tactical operations, WSO operate the on-board electronics for weapon deployment and electronic warfare , monitor the airspace, plan weapon deployment, etc. Pilot and WSO work in a team. During flight preparation, a WSO plans the tactical parts of the flight; during the pre-flight inspection, it checks the armament while the pilot takes over the aircraft. In principle, the pilot in charge, the pilot in charge, bears overall responsibility for the safe and rule-compliant operation of the aircraft. The WSO's responsibility depends on the functions available on the aircraft type, the operational role (combat bomber, air combat, aerial reconnaissance, etc.) and the level of training.
An example of a fighter aircraft with an even more subdivided task distribution is the strategic bomber B-1 Lancer with four crew members. Here the Offensive System Officer (OSO) operates, among other things, the armament and the Defensive System Officer (DSO) the self-protection systems.
With the introduction of more powerful avionics (e.g. improved navigation systems) to support the pilot, the development of combat aircraft is currently moving towards single-seat machines. Weapon system officers are also no longer required for the Eurofighter Typhoon multi- role combat aircraft .
Other names
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A short, concise description of the range of tasks is difficult. This also explains the different names for the activity: The first name in the German Air Force was Combat Observation Officer (KBO) , only in the course of time did the name change to WSO. The Royal Air Force WSO deployed on the FGR-2 were simply referred to as Navigators . With the introduction of the tornado, the job title changed to WSO. The Mil Mi-24 gunner (copilot) seated in the front cockpit was called operator in the NVA air force . In the US armed forces, the designation WSO is in use in the air force, while the corresponding activity in the F-14 Tomcat of the US Navy is called Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) , or more generally as Naval Flight Officer . Colloquially, a WSO is often simply called a “backseater”, an allusion to the workplace that is usually located in the rear cockpit.
education
WSO of the Air Force go through the following specialist training after the upstream officer training. Pre-flight training takes place at the Air Force Officer School in Fürstenfeldbruck and at the 3rd German Air Force Training Squadron USA in Goodyear , Arizona , USA . This is followed by the WSO course with the US Navy in Pensacola , Florida , USA. This is followed by weapons system training either at Jagdgeschwader 71 in Wittmund for the F-4 F or at the Air Force Aviation Training Center at Holloman Air Force Base , New Mexico , USA, for the tornado. The training is completed with the award of operational readiness in the later task force.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Phantoms of the RAF on the official RAF homepage ( Memento of the original from November 13, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (dead link)
- ^ Description of the requirements for employment and the profile of WSO's activities in the RAF; Accessed January 25, 2009
- ↑ Description of the training and job profile of Naval Flight Officers in the US Navy ( Memento of the original from June 2, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Retrieved January 25, 2009 (dead link)
- ↑ Description of the training of air force flight personnel on the official Air Force homepage; Accessed January 25, 2009.
- ^ The Air Force Aviation Training Center on the official Air Force homepage; Accessed January 25, 2009
