Working closely with the Air Group, the Air Department is up in the early dawn until late beyond Taps to keep the flight deck and the hangar deck ready. During Air Operations aircraft must move swiftly from the hangar deck to the flight deck to be launched and, conversely, moved swiftly out of the way during landings. The success sof each launch and recovery depends on the teamwork, skill, and hard work of the men of the Air Department.

     Under the eyes of the "Air Boss", up in Pri Fly, the Air Department gives its best effort with each and every  operation from the Catapult officer to the plane pusher in Hangar Bay One.

     With the outstanding performance by the Air Department, high praise and gratitude comes from all hands as wall as from the valiant men who fly the planes in constant vigil for the preservation of freedom.

 

     The carrier air department is organized into divisions that are responsible for landing and launching operations. They also handle and service aircraft and maintain the equipment necessary for these functions. Air department personnel are ship's company, and the department is a permanent shipboard activity. The divisions include :

 

     The Intrepid air department typically maintained a Helicopter Detachment and a Marine Detachment. Over the years, the Helo detachments that have been assigned rescued many downed pilots. Although Intrepid's Helo Detachments duty was to provide "Angel" service for the Air Group they have been called upon to perform a wide variety of tasks. Some of these included mail, cargo, personnel, photo flights, and patrol flights.