What Is The Aircraft Platform Interface (API) ?  

Imagine that the Navy has just acquired its new state-of-the art attack aircraft. The aircraft squadron is assigned to the latest 90,000 ton nuclear aircraft carrier. This is an enormous investment, but an unrivaled weapon system; if this new aircraft can actually operate from the carrier -- an island steaming at 30 knots in the middle of the ocean. Can the aircraft takeoff and be recovered, be fueled and armed, serviced and maintained; in short, can the aircraft interface with the ship?

Lakehurst is in the business of guaranteeing performance. Lakehurst is in the Aircraft
Platform Interface business. The Aircraft Platform Interface or API, is the systems, equipment, processes and know-how that permit fixed or rotary wing aircraft to operate safely and effectively from a variety of platforms; the aircraft carrier, the air-capable ship, the Marines' forward expeditionary site.

API is the catapult launching the aircraft from the carrier, the visual guidance systems guiding the aircraft to the ship and the arresting gear recovering them. It's tractors and spotting dollies moving aircraft on the deck and state-of-the-art test equipment keeping aircraft engines and avionics systems working. It's the equipment to fuel aircraft, load weapons and find and repair structural damage.

We research, develop analyze and design new systems and techniques, seeking safer, more capable and less expensive ways to operate. We work closely with the commercial world to buy the best equipment for a fair price. Our technical experts service this equipment worldwide. Lakehurst is the only activity responsible for this specialized niche of Naval Aviation.
  

Following are examples of API products and services:

Terminal Guidance
Improved Carrier Optical Landing System (ICOLS)...VSTOL Optical Landing System(OLS)...Night Vision Goggle (NVG) compatible deck lighting...Carrier and air capable ship video camera systems...Flight deck marking and lighting
  

Recovery
Mk7 Series shiboard arresting engines...M-21 and M-29 expeditionary arresting gear...Expeditionary airfield AM-2 mat...Recovery Assist, Securing and Traversing (RAST) system...Advanced recovery control system...ASTOVL aircraft recovery system
  

Handling
TA-35 heavy aircraft tow tractor...Aircraft spotting dolly...Air-launched weapons loader...Air-capable ship flight deck traversing system...Omnidirectional vehicle development

The A/S32P-25 (P-25) - the next generation Fire Fighting Vehicle, currently under development, will provide increase flow rates and remote control capability on board aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships.
   

Propulsion Support
Standard Engine Test System (SETS)...Vibration Analysis Test Set (VATS)...Universal Jet Air Start Unit (UNIJASU)...Out-of-airframe jet engine test system...Advanced refurbishment of engine parts
  

Avionics Support
Consolidated Automated Support System (CASS)...Common Automatic Test Equipment (CATE) cognizant field activity... CATE life cycle support... Digital automatic test program generator cognizant field activity... Airborne low frequency sonar system

  
Servicing and Maintenance
Nondestructive Inspection (NDI) equipment...Environmentally compliant coatings...Cryogenic service systems...Aviators breathing oxygen...Aircraft generator test stands...Truck mounted deicer...Aircraft maintenance platforms...Mobile facility program

   
Aircraft/Weapons/Ship Compatibility
Chemical/Biological defense...Integrated Shipboard Information System (ISIS)...CVN-76 Primary flight controls...Neural networks for pattern recognition...Defense standardization program...Future aircraft carrier study...Reduction of ozone depleting substances

    
Takeoff
Shipboard steam catapults...Electromagnetic Aircraft Launching system (EMALS)...Jet Blast Deflector (JBD) concepts...In-service engineering support...Computer-aided capacity selector valve setting