AT: "xx" The shuttlebay (variously called the flight deck, hangar deck, or shuttlecraft bay) was a facility on a starship where shuttlecraft were launched, received, stored, and maintained.
The space doors on a shuttlebay were usually kept closed, and were replaced with a force field when a shuttlecraft was about to land or to be launched. This force field could be penetrated by the shuttlecraft itself, while it prevented decompression of the shuttlebay. (TNG: "The Child")
Most shuttlebays were equipped with a tractor beam emitter in order to facilitate the landing procedure. During the 22nd century, these facilities were referred to on Starfleet vessels as "launch bays" and used a grappler. (ENT: "Broken Bow", et al.)
On at least Constitution-class starships, flight decks were overlooked by an observation deck. The location of the hangar deck for this class was depicted on a schematic stored in the USS Enterprise-D library computer in 2364. (TOS: "The Conscience of the King"; TOS: "Datalore")
Constellation-class starships had seven shuttlebays. At the front of the ship, there was shuttlebay 1. Along the starboard, there were shuttlebays 2, 3, and 4. Along the port, there were shuttlebays 5, 6, and 7. (TNG: "The Battle")
Galaxy-class starships had several shuttlebays. A main shuttlebay was located in the primary hull while shuttlebays 2 and 3 were located in the secondary hull. These bays were supported by several hangars. (Star Trek: The Next Generation, TNG: "Evolution")
Deep Space 9's landing pads provided a similar storing location for small starships such as Danube-class runabouts, Ferengi shuttles, and Romulan shuttles. (DS9: "Emissary", "The Magnificent Ferengi", "In the Pale Moonlight")
Intrepid-class starships had a shuttlebay located at the rear of the secondary hull supported by at least one hangar, commonly referred to as shuttlebay 2. (Star Trek: Voyager, VOY: "In the Flesh", "Body and Soul")
