Béarn's elevators did not directly serve the lower workshop and storage hangar. Aircraft therefore moved on overhead rails beneath a lift, rose into the upper hangar, transferred for preparation, and then returned to a lift for the flight deck. Every extra transfer slowed the generation of sorties and made maintenance dependent on a complex handling chain. In a rolling ship, suspended aircraft could swing across the hangar, threatening crews, airframes, and nearby equipment. Asbestos fire curtains divided both hangars into four sections, adding fire separation without simplifying the transfer system.
Chapter · 54:00-58:42
Béarn's suspended-rail aircraft handling system
Overhead rails moved aircraft between Béarn's lower workshops, upper hangar, and lifts, but the suspended loads became dangerous as the ship rolled.