A raised aft elevator could turn flexibility into obstruction

The aft elevator's operating position created a physical obstacle near an aircraft's approach path. Normal procedure was supposed to lower it for recovery, but a jam could force pilots to land from the forward end and could also disrupt take-offs. The offset deck gave crews some ability to route aircraft around a lift that was up or down. Even so, the lack of a full flight deck aft reduced the available margin and required operational adaptation. The clever mechanism added risk when combined with the ship's other unconventional features.