Catapult Assisted Takeoff employs a steam or electromagnetic track to rapidly accelerate a fixed-wing aircraft to flight speed in a very short distance. It is primarily used on aircraft carriers where the flight deck is too short for a conventional rolling takeoff. The system hooks to the aircraft's nose gear and transfers massive kinetic energy during the launch stroke.
Heard on the job
The deck crew is hooking up the F-18 for a CATO off the bow.