Continuity mistake: Just as the F-14's are coming under fire from the ship, we are shown the pilots. One of the pilots, "Pendry" was killed when his F-14 crashed due to a malfunction in the earlier episode 'Pilot Error'. As such, "Pendry" could not have been fired on in this episode since he was already deceased.
Other mistake: Throughout the whole show there are several shots of submarines, aircraft carrier landings, chopper flights that are exactly the same in different episodes.
Factual error: Throughout the series the captains of ships are generally portrayed as holding the rank of captain, regardless of the class and size of the ship they command. In reality the rank of the CO of a frigate would most likely be a Lt.Cmdr or Cmdr whereas the CO of a amphibious ship or a carrier would be a Captain. On these larger ships the XO usually holds the same rank as the CO, but obeys all orders given by him. However unlike in JAG the CAG takes most orders from the carrier group commander (2 star), not the CO.
Chosen answer: When landing on an aircraft carrier, a pilot "calls the ball" by confirming to the landing signal officer (LSO) that they have the carrier, and more specifically its landing guidance systems in sight. Carriers use a Fresnel lens system which is a light only visible at a certain angle, so if a pilot sees the "ball" they are at the correct altitude and glide slope for landing.
Sierra1 ★