Saw this picture on the news
 

Thought this was a great shot. Wish I had a bigger version.

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20101130/ca...vMsZwoJWHAfQ--

What are the vis and ceiling requirements to launch/land on a carrier?

Done both in zero/zero. "Published" mins for the ACLS/ILS to the boat are 260 and 1/2 (60' is for the deck height above water). LSO will usually gain sight of you before you see the boat, and talk you down until you can take over via the ball and lineup. If you're lucky someone will recognize the silliness of it outside combat and just cry uncle and cancel a day like that. Nothing like walking across the flight deck to your jet asking yourself "why am I doing this???" Although I asked myself that question just about every time I was in marshall about to attempt another night trap.

There is also the option of coupleing up for a Mode 1, which is literally a coupled auto land, however it can and will drop lock at the worst times, and dosen't do well in heavy seas.

Grumble - Isn't the Mode 1 solar powered? :p
Also - why aren't they launching. There is good training to be had above that stuff! :cool:

USMCFLYR

Yeah right. That's the kind of day you run the FCS BIT with a little rudder pressure in. "Awe, yeah... won't pass the BIT and I just missed the launch. Shucks."

They were beautiful, those Hornets in the mist .... :)

Not sure what they do with out the S-3 anymore, this was the kind of day they would say "launch the tankers" do the wx recce, then they would cnx flight ops, of course there was always one or two to land, and we had no mode 1!

Hoov made a GREAT tanker, and even better group to party with in port. Watched those guys launch and recover one day when the boat lost propulsion and went dead in the water.