Bidirectional recovery promised unusual wind flexibility

Joffre's flight deck was offset and did not extend uniformly across the full length of the hull. The unusual aft elevator could raise an aircraft with its engine already running, ready to move forward into a take-off position. Arresting wires placed near the centre were intended to support landings from either direction. That arrangement offered more options when wind direction and the ship's heading made a conventional stern recovery inconvenient. The concept shows French designers seeking operational flexibility instead of simply copying established carrier layouts.