Abstract: the catapult launching and arrest landing are special dynamic problems for carrier aircraft. The main evaluation criteria of the carrier aircraft taking-off and landing characteristics are taking-off attitude, safe critical end-speed and climbing track over the bow during the catapult launching, glide track fixing or keeping, geared speed and arrest sliding during the arrest landing and the capability of bolter etc. These criteria are closely connected with the carrier movement, in pitch, sway, heave and the atmospheric disturbances. By using the method of studying the carrier aircraft characteristics proposed in this paper a typical example of numerical simulation is presented. The results are quite consistent with some available results of the typical aircraft.

Key words: carrier-based aircraft, catapult launching, arrest, geared speed.