Uss Nimitz

Narrator: SHE IS THE MIGHTIEST SUPER CARRIER OF THEM ALL. USS NIMITZ IS A FLOATING AIRBASE... A LAUNCH PAD FOR 75 LETHAL JETS. Man: WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO LAUNCH STRIKES HUNDREDS OF MILES INLAND. Narrator: HER FLIGHT DECK CAN TURN DEADLY IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE. Man: THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ROOM FOR ERROR OUT HERE. YOU'VE GOT TO BRING YOUR A-GAME. Narrator: A GAME WHERE THE SIMPLEST MISTAKE CAN COST HER CREW EVERYTHING. Man: THERE'S NOBODY ELSE OUT THERE, SO IT REALLY IS LIFE AND DEATH. Narrator: USS NIMITZ IS PREPARING FOR WAR, AND THE NAVY NEEDS TO KNOW SHE'S READY. USS NIMITZ, THE MOST LETHAL WARSHIP IN THE WORLD. HER WEAPONS... 75 SUPERSONIC FIGHTER JETS. SHE HAS BEEN DEPLOYED AS BOTH A DETERRENT AND TO FIGHT IN MANY ARMED CONFLICTS. COMMISSIONED IN 1975, SHE WAS THE FIRST OF TEN NIMITZ CLASS SUPER CARRIERS. NOW A $260 MILLION REFIT HAS PUT HER BACK AT THE TOP OF HER CLASS. COMMANDING NIMITZ IS A DREAM COME TRUE FOR 28-YEAR NAVY VETERAN CAPTAIN MICHAEL MANAZIR. Michael Manazir: I'M NIMITZ. NIMITZ IS ME. MY HEART AND SOUL ARE INTERTWINED IN THIS SHIP. EVERY SINGLE SAILOR THAT HAS NIMITZ ON THEIR UNIFORM, IT'S VERY SPECIAL TO LEAD THEM. BEST JOB IN THE UNIVERSE. Narrator: CAPTAIN MANAZIR IS IN CHARGE OF A SHIP THAT IS 24 STORIES FROM TOP TO BOTTOM AND AS LONG AS THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING IS TALL. THE FLIGHT DECK COVERS 4.5 ACRES. HER THREE MASSIVE HANGAR BAYS HAVE OVER FOUR MILLION CUBIC FEET OF STORAGE. 5,000 CREW LIVE AND WORK IN HUNDREDS OF COMPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE SHIP. AND NIMITZ HAS TWO NUCLEAR REACTORS THAT POWER FOUR GIANT STEAM TURBINE GENERATORS. SHE IS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MAN IN CHARGE. Captain: I THINK MY JOB IS AKIN TO MAYOR OF A SMALL TOWN, AIRPORT MANAGER, AND THE OPERATIONS OFFICER OF A TWO-REACTOR REACTOR PLANT. Narrator: BUT CAPTAIN MANAZIR'S MAIN JOB IS TO MAKE SURE HIS SHIP AND CREW ARE BATTLE-READY. TO PREPARE FOR HER NEXT DEPLOYMENT IN THE ARABIAN SEA, NEAR AFGHANISTAN, NIMITZ WILL TRAIN FOR THREE MONTHS OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA. Captain: WHEN I GO TAKE THE SHIP OVER THE HORIZON, I HAVE TO TRUST THE FACT THAT MY TEAM CAN OPERATE IN COMBAT IN ANY CONDITION, AGAINST ANY FOE... Narrator: HER CREW IS A COMBINATION OF RAW ROOKIES LEARNING THE ROPES AND SEASONED VETERANS WHO NEED TO SHARPEN THEIR SKILLS. DURING TRAINING EXERCISES, EVERYONE WILL BE JUDGED BY NAVY EVALUATORS. Man: USE YOUR RESOURCES. THAT'S WHAT I SAW. THAT WAS BRILLIANT. Captain: WE'RE GETTING ASSESSED RIGHT NOW ON OUR ABILITY TO KEEP THAT TRAINING HIGH, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING IT. Narrator: IF THEY DON'T MEASURE UP, NIMITZ' DEPLOYMENT COULD BE DELAYED. Captain: IT IS POSSIBLE TO FAIL. AND IF WE DO FAIL, WHAT THAT RESULTS IN IS WE DON'T GET SENT HOME; WE DO A GREATER LEVEL OF TRAINING. Narrator: THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL TRAINING IS LEARNING TO WORK AS A TEAM, WHILE LAUNCHING A NON-STOP WAVE OF JETS FROM A FLOATING FLIGHT DECK AND THEN BRINGING THEM HOME SAFELY. THE DRILLS ARE CALLED CYCLICAL FLIGHT OPERATIONS-- CYCLIC OPS FOR SHORT. THEY ARE HIGH-RISK FOR EVERYONE AND A HUGE ADRENALINE RUSH FOR THE PILOTS. Man: THIS IS WHAT EVERY CARRIER AVIATOR LIVES FOR IS CYCLIC OPS. THIS IS WHAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO. Narrator: AT AGE 29, LIEUTENANT MIKE STOCK IS ONE OF THE NAVY'S TOP GUNS. HIS CALL SIGN, CYNDI, A HUMBLING REMINDER OF A MISTAKE HE MADE AS A ROOKIE PILOT-- ACCIDENTALLY DUMPING FUEL ON THE DECK DURING A LANDING EXERCISE. Mike Stock: IT VENTED FUEL ALL OVER THE ENTIRE FLIGHT DECK, INCLUDING THE LANDING SIGNAL OFFICERS AND SOME OF THE FLIGHT DECK CHIEFS AND PERSONNEL. SO I WAS SHORTLY DUBBED AFTER THAT, "CHECK YOU'RE NOT DUMPING, IDIOT." SO CYNDI BECAME MY CALL SIGN, THAT ACRONYM, AND IT'S STUCK WITH ME EVER SINCE. Narrator: HUNDREDS OF FLIGHTS LATER, CYNDI IS A PROUD WARRIOR AND KEENLY AWARE OF THE PRESSURE TO PERFORM. Cyndi: AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER WITHOUT AIRCRAFT IS JUST ANOTHER SHIP. THE AIRCRAFT ARE THE ONES THAT PROJECT THAT POWER FORWARD. WE'RE THE ONES THAT WHEN WE PARK AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER OFF THE COAST OF A COUNTRY, THEY'RE NOT FEARING THE SHIP, BUT THEY'RE FEARING THE 75 AIRCRAFT THAT ARE GOING TO LAUNCH OVER AND BRING WEAPONS TO THEIR HOMELAND. Narrator: NIMITZ IS A POWERFUL TOOL OF INTIMIDATION. IN HER 30-PLUS YEARS AT SEA, SHE HAS SAILED MILLIONS OF NAUTICAL MILES AND HAS BEEN DEPLOYED MOST OFTEN TO WARN POTENTIAL ENEMIES THAT AMERICA MEANS BUSINESS. SHE HAS SEEN ARMED CONFLICTS, TOO-- THE LEBANESE CIVIL WAR, OPERATION DESERT STORM, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. BUT PREPARING FOR WAR CAN BE AS DANGEROUS AS COMBAT ITSELF. SINCE SHE WAS COMMISSIONED, MORE THAN 20 MEMBERS OF NIMITZ CREW HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN TRAINING. PLANES HAVE CRASHED ON THE FLIGHT DECK. HIGH-TENSION CABLES HAVE SNAPPED. DURING THESE CURRENT TRAINING EXERCISES, FIVE CREW MEMBERS WERE JUST KILLED IN A TRAGIC HELICOPTER ACCIDENT. THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS TO DIE DURING TRAINING... ESPECIALLY FOR THE PILOTS. Cyndi: YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE DEPLOYED OFF IN THE GULF TO HAVE DANGER AROUND YOU. YOU COULD DIE JUST AS EASILY ON DAY ONE IN A WORKUP CYCLE AS YOU CAN IN THE LAST DAY OF A CRUISE, BEFORE YOU PULL IN. Narrator: IT IS A FACT OF LIFE ON AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER: THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS WORKPLACE IN THE WORLD. FOR THE NAVY EVALUATORS, THEIR FIRST RESPONSIBILITY IS TO DRILL INTO THE CREW THAT SAFETY ALWAYS COMES FIRST. Man: ...WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT. OK? SAFETY IS THE NUMBER-ONE CONCERN. WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO. ALRIGHT? SO DID WE DO GOOD ON THIS DRILL? Crew: HELL, YEAH! Man: HELL, YEAH, WE DID. CAN WE DO IT BETTER? Crew: YEAH! Man: ALL DAY LONG! Crew: NIMITZ! Narrator: THERE ARE TOUGH DAYS AHEAD FOR THE ROOKIES. MANY IN THIS GROUP HAVE NEVER FIRED A .50-CALIBER MACHINE GUN BEFORE. FOR SOME, IT'S EVEN THEIR FIRST TIME ON A SHIP. THE GUNNERY EVALUATORS HAVE A TOUGH JOB ON THEIR HANDS. Richard Coddington: MOST OF THEM ARE PRETTY NEW, WITHIN ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF. SOME OF THEM ARE VERY NEW. WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE ONLY BEEN HERE A FEW WEEKS. THERE'LL BE A LOT OF NEWBIES COMING UP THE CHUTE. YOU'LL SEE US YELLING AT THEM. THEY'LL GET IT. Alexandrea Shaw: A LITTLE HARSH ON THE SHOULDER, BUT I LIKE IT. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME LIVE FIRING IN HERE. IT WAS GOOD, GOOD. THEN I RAN OUT OF AMMO. Captain: BEST EVALUATION IS SUMMER TRAINING OR SPRING TRAINING FOR A SPORTS TEAM. WE'RE GETTING THOSE SKILL SETS BACK UP SO WE GO INTO THE GAME, WE'RE GOOD AT THE GAME. THAT'S WHAT ALL THIS IS. Narrator: IF THE SHIP COMES UNDER ATTACK AND SAILORS ARE INJURED, EVERYONE HAS TO KNOW HOW TO SAVE LIVES. COMMANDER MIKE McGUINESS, THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, MAKES SURE THEY'VE GOT THE SKILLS. Mike McGuiness: CORPSMEN, DOCTORS... THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH OF US, AND WE NEED EVERYONE ELSE TO BE A BASIC PROVIDER AND HANDLE THE FUNDAMENTAL EMERGENCIES THAT EVERYONE'S GOING TO SEE, IN A MASS CASUALTY LIKE WE HAD EARLIER TODAY. Narrator: IN TRAINING, INJURIES ARE SIMULATED, BUT MIKE EXPECTS EVERY CREW MEMBER TO MAKE IT AS REAL AS POSSIBLE. Mike: WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS TRYING TO GET TEAMS OF FOUR PROFICIENT IN THE EIGHT BASIC BATTLE WAR WOUNDS THAT ANY SAILOR CAN FACE ON A SHIP. Narrator: THE EVALUATORS KEEP PUSHING FOR IMPROVEMENT. Man: JUST TRY IT OUT AGAIN. PUT IT ON FOR ME AGAIN. Narrator: REAL WARS DON'T STOP AFTER DARK. SO THE CREW HAS TO TRAIN 24-7. Man: SET GENERAL QUARTERS, SET GENERAL QUARTERS. Narrator: IT'S MIDNIGHT. UP ON THE BRIDGE, THE OFFICERS ARE PLANNING A SURPRISE-- A SIMULATED MISSILE ATTACK. Man: ALL HANDS MAN YOUR BATTLE STATIONS. Narrator: IT'S DESIGNED TO TEST EVERY ENLISTED PERSON ON BOARD. IN THE HANGAR BAY, HUNDREDS MOBILIZE FOR THE GRUELING DRILL. MATT OAKS' JOB IS TO ORGANIZE DAMAGE CONTROL TEAMS. Matt Oaks: YOU COULD BE EATING CHOW, TAKING A SHOWER, SLEEPING IN YOUR RACK, AND AS SOON AS THOSE BELLS GO OFF, EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THIS SHIP HAS 10 MINUTES TO GET WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE. Narrator: THE EVALUATORS ARE LOOKING FOR PRECISION, ORGANIZATION, AND SPEED. Matt: WE'RE ALL BY OURSELVES. THERE'S NOBODY ELSE OUT THERE. THERE'S NO ONE ELSE OUT THERE TO TAKE CARE OF US. WE CAN'T JUST CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE'RE IT. Narrator: IT'S A FULL DRESS REHEARSAL, AND THE SAILORS GEAR UP TO FIGHT A WORST-CASE SCENARIO. THEY SPLIT INTO TEAMS, READY TO TACKLE FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS. Matt: SO REALLY, IT'S LIFE AND DEATH, AND WE WILL GET IT RIGHT BEFORE WE DEPLOY FORWARD TO BE THE TIP OF THE SPEAR, AS YOU WOULD SAY. Narrator: AND THEY WILL NEED MORE REHEARSALS BEFORE HEADING INTO A REAL WAR ZONE. IN THE MORNING, THEY WILL FACE AN EVEN BIGGER TEST WHEN FLIGHT OPERATIONS BEGIN-- THE MOST DANGEROUS TRAINING ON THIS SHIP. SUPER CARRIER USS NIMITZ IS PREPARING FOR WAR. WITHIN MONTHS, SHE WILL BE IN THE ARABIAN SEA, POINTED AT AFGHANISTAN. BUT FIRST, THE NAVY MUST EVALUATE EVERYONE ON BOARD TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE READY FOR COMBAT. MANY CREW MEMBERS ARE ROOKIES WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A COMBAT ZONE. Captain: IT'S KIND OF AN UNKNOWN. AND THEY'RE NOT SURE HOW THAT'S ALL GOING TO ALL SHAKE OUT. SOME OF THEM ARE EVEN AFRAID THEY WON'T COME BACK. Man: THAT'S NORMAL, AND THAT'S OK... Narrator: NIMITZ CARRIES NINE SQUADRONS OF AIRCRAFT-- FOUR OF THEM FIGHTERS. THE REST ARE SUPPORT AIRCRAFT, LIKE HELICOPTERS AND SURVEILLANCE PLANES. EACH SQUADRON HAS ITS OWN READY ROOM WHERE THEY PLAN THEIR MISSIONS. F-18 PILOT LIEUTENANT MIKE STOCK, CALL NAME CYNDI, IS IN THE TOP HATTERS SQUADRON. HE HAS ALREADY COMPLETED TWO COMBAT DEPLOYMENTS. BUT THERE IS ALWAYS MORE TO LEARN. Cyndi: EVERY DAY YOU'RE OUT HERE, YOU'RE GOING TO SCHOOL, YOU'RE LEARNING SOMETHING. AND IF YOU'RE NOT, THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE DANGEROUS. WHEN YOU THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING, YOU'RE DANGEROUS. Narrator: HIS SQUADRON GETS READY FOR A NEW ROUND OF TRAINING. IT WILL BE A LONG HAUL. Cyndi: EIGHT MONTHS FROM NOW HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ON OUR GAME AND MOVING AT FULL SPEED. SO TODAY SAFETY IS KIND OF THE KEY WORD, MAKING SURE NOBODY GETS HURT DOING THIS, WHICH CAN HAPPEN PRETTY EASILY. [WHISTLE BLOWING] Narrator: IT IS EARLY MORNING DOWN IN THE HANGAR BAY, WHERE THE FIRST STAGE OF CYCLICAL FLIGHT OPERATIONS IS GETTING UNDERWAY. THE CREW WORKS IN AN AMBER GLOW THAT MAKES IT HARDER FOR AN ENEMY TO SPOT NIMITZ AT NIGHT. THEY ARE GETTING READY TO SEND PLANES UPSTAIRS FOR THEIR MORNING MISSIONS. CHIEF PETTY OFFICER JASON PICK IS IN CHARGE OF THE HANGAR BAY. HE IS THE NAVY'S VERSION OF A TRAFFIC COP. Jason Pick: TONIGHT THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE A LOT OF AIRCRAFT. OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE DOWN HERE IS MAKING ROOM WITHOUT RUNNING INTO A BULKHEAD OR ANOTHER AIRPLANE. Narrator: NO ONE WANTS A FENDER BENDER WITH A $70 MILLION AIRPLANE. Jason: WHEN DOWN HERE IN THE HANGAR BAY, IT'S LIKE PUTTING A JIGSAW PUZZLE TOGETHER. YOU PUT THE PIECES IN THE RIGHT PLACES. IF YOU GO OUT OF ORDER, EVERYTHING GOES BAD. Narrator: BUT THE GREATEST DANGER COMES FROM THE VOLATILE COMBINATION OF FUEL VAPOR AND HOT JET ENGINES IN AN ENCLOSED SPACE. IN 1988, A FIRE DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE LEFT FOUR NIMITZ CREW DEAD. Pick: MY BIGGEST WORRY IS FIRE, BECAUSE IF THERE'S A FIRE IN THE HANGAR BAY, IT IS ABLE TO SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SHIP. SO YOU'RE PUTTING THE ENTIRE CREW AT RISK WITH A FIRE IN THE HANGAR BAY. Narrator: DAWN BREAKS ACROSS THE VAST FLIGHT DECK. THE 4.5-ACRE DECK IS HUGE FOR A SHIP, BUT TINY FOR AN AIRPORT, AND IT'S ABOUT TO GET VERY CROWDED. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JODY SMOTHERMAN NEEDS TO BE ON HIS A-GAME. AFTER THE PILOTS, HE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON ON THE FLIGHT DECK. HE IS A SHOOTER, RESPONSIBLE FOR LAUNCHING AIRCRAFT. Jody Smotherman: THEY SAY IT'S 4.5 ACRES, AND IT IS. THERE'S A LOT OF REAL ESTATE OUT HERE, BUT EVERY BIT OF REAL ESTATE COUNTS. TO FIT 50 PLANES AND STILL HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO LAND THEM AND LAUNCH THEM IS... IT MAKES FOR A PRETTY TIGHT ENVIRONMENT. Narrator: FOUR AIRCRAFT ELEVATORS DELIVER THE FIRST JETS FROM THE HANGAR BAY. EACH CAN LIFT TWO 74,000-POUND AIRPLANES UP TO THE FLIGHT DECK IN UNDER TWO MINUTES. LAUNCHING AND RECOVERING AIRCRAFT WHILE 450 PEOPLE WORK ON DECK MAKES THIS THE HIGHEST-RISK RUNWAY IN THE WORLD. TEN STORIES UP ON THE BRIDGE, NAVIGATION OFFICER RICH SCHMAELING ORDERS NIMITZ TO TURN INTO THE WIND. AS IT BLOWS ACROSS THE DECK, THE WIND WILL GIVE THE PLANES EXTRA LIFT WHEN THEY ARE LAUNCHED. JET ENGINES ARE REVVED TO THE MAX. BUT THEY STILL DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO LAUNCH OFF THE RUNWAY. ON LAND, IT TAKES ALMOST 1,500 FEET FOR AN F-18 TO TAKE OFF. NIMITZ' RUNWAY IS ONLY 180 FEET LONG. THEY NEED THE HELP OF A CATAPULT TO FIRE THEM OFF THE DECK. THE CATAPULT CONNECTS TO THE FRONT LANDING GEAR OF THE JET. WHEN THE CATAPULT FIRES, IT PULLS THE JET DOWN A TRACK ON THE RUNWAY. IT TAKES JUST TWO SECONDS TO GO FROM ZERO TO 165 MILES AN HOUR. SHOOTERS CALL IT "THE CAT SHOT." PILOTS CALL IT THE RIDE OF A LIFETIME. ONCE A SQUADRON IS LAUNCHED, IT WILL STAY AIRBORNE FOR HOURS, PERFORMING DRILLS LIKE MOCK DOGFIGHTS AND IN-FLIGHT REFUELING. IN THE FLIGHT OPERATIONS ROOM LOCATED IN THE CONTROL TOWER, THEY TRACK THE LAUNCHES ON A REPLICA OF THE FLIGHT DECK. THEY CALL IT "THE OUIJA BOARD." NIMITZ HAS STATE-OF-THE-ART ELECTRONIC TRACKING SYSTEMS, BUT THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF HER PLANES IS WITH SIMPLE COLORED PINS. Man: THE GREEN PINS THAT YOU SEE HERE, THAT MEANS THAT THEY'RE ON THE NEXT LAUNCH, THE YELLOW ONES ARE THE PRECEDING LAUNCH. WE CALL IT PINOLOGY. Narrator: THINGS CHANGE EVERY SECOND DURING FLIGHT OPS. IT IS LIKE WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY SUPERHIGHWAY, WHERE ONE WRONG STEP CAN BE FATAL. EVERYONE ON THE FLIGHT DECK CREW WORKS IN TIGHTLY DEFINED AREAS. COLOR-CODING HELPS ENSURE THAT THEY ARE WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE. PURPLE SHIRTS PUMP JET FUEL. BROWN SHIRTS MONITOR THE PLANES. GREEN SHIRTS ARE TECHNICIANS WORKING ON THE CATAPULTS THAT LAUNCH THE PLANES AND THE ARRESTING WIRES THAT STOP THEM. RED SHIRTS LOAD BOMBS AND AMMUNITION. BUT THE SHOOTERS, IN YELLOW, HAVE THE RISKIEST JOBS OF ALL. THEY WORK DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THE AIRCRAFT, DIRECTING LAUNCHES AND RECOVERIES. TO COMMUNICATE, THEY USE A COMPLEX SERIES OF HAND SIGNALS BECAUSE THE JET ENGINES ARE DEAFENING. VETERAN SHOOTER JODY SMOTHERMAN'S EXPERIENCE ON THE FLIGHT DECK HELPS KEEP HIM ALIVE. Jody: IT'S WELL-CHOREOGRAPHED CHAOS. YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S GOT THEIR PLACE TO GO, THEY KNOW THE RULES HOW TO GET THERE, AND THEY'RE ALL GOING DIFFERENT WAYS. Narrator: JODY TAKES HIS LIFE IN HIS HANDS EVERY TIME HE DOES HIS JOB. HE COULD BE SUCKED INTO THE INTAKE OF AN F-18 ENGINE, BURNED, OR BLOWN OVERBOARD BY A BLAST OF JET EXHAUST. Jody: THERE'S A LOT OF HAZARDS OUT THERE, AND IT'S VERY UNFORGIVING. YOU TURN THE WRONG WAY ON AN AIRPLANE... THE GUY UNDERNEATH THE AIRPLANE, HE TURNS THE WRONG WAY, HE ENDS UP INSIDE THE ENGINE. AND IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. THERE'S SO MUCH STUFF GOING ON THAT IF YOU START TO STEP OUTSIDE THOSE LINES, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO BITE YOU NEXT. Narrator: THE MOST DANGEROUS PHASE OF CYCLIC OPS IS BRINGING THE JETS HOME. IT'S NOT A LANDING; IT'S A CONTROLLED CRASH. WHEN A PLANE HITS THE DECK, THE PILOT HAS ONLY SECONDS TO ADJUST AND SNAG AN ARRESTING CABLE WITH A HOOK ON THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT. EVERY TIME A PLANE LANDS, JODY IS ON HIGH ALERT. Jody: RIGHT HERE, THE ARRESTING GEAR CABLES RIGHT IN FRONT OF US, WE HAVE FOUR OF THEM. THEY TRY AND AIM FOR THE MIDDLE OF THEM. SO IF YOU SEE, THE HOOK TOUCHES DOWN BASICALLY RIGHT IN FRONT OF US SO THAT THEY CATCH THE THIRD WIRE. Narrator: THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHES THE DECK AT 165 MILES AN HOUR. WHEN THE TAIL HOOK CATCHES, THE CABLE SPOOLS OUT, FIGHTING TO STOP THE JET'S POWERFUL FORWARD MOMENTUM. EVERY AIRCRAFT IS BROUGHT TO A COMPLETE STOP IN LESS THAN 350 FEET. Jody: THERE'S A LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF BREAKS YOU CAN HAVE IN THE CABLE, AND SO WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THAT NUMBER IS NOT EXCEEDED. Narrator: THAT'S WHY EACH TWO-INCH-THICK CABLE IS REPLACED AFTER A HUNDRED LANDINGS, JUST IN CASE. IF A CABLE SNAPS UNDER THE STRAIN, IT WILL CRACK ACROSS THE FLIGHT DECK LIKE A SOLID STEEL BULLWHIP. IN 1996, A CABLE BROKE DURING CYCLIC OPS, KILLING A SAILOR. AFTER TWO HOURS OF CYCLIC OPS, IT IS TIME FOR THE PILOTS TO TAKE A BREATHER. THE TIMING IS PERFECT. NO PILOT WOULD WANT HIS AIRCRAFT INVOLVED IN THE NEXT EXERCISE. THE EVALUATORS ARE GETTING READY TO PUT JODY AND HIS TEAM THROUGH A CATAPULT DRILL. THEY ARE BEING TESTED ON HOW THEY WOULD HANDLE A DISASTROUS MALFUNCTION CALLED A HANG FIRE. Jody: ARE WE CONFIRMED? Man: WE'RE CONFIRMED. Narrator: A HANG FIRE IS CAUSED WHEN THE SHOOTER COMMANDS AN AIRCRAFT TO LAUNCH, BUT THE CATAPULT FAILS TO FIRE AT FULL POWER. Jody: WHEN THAT HAPPENS, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT AIRPLANE DOESN'T GO OFF THE FRONT OF THE SHIP ACCIDENTALLY BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY COMMANDED THE CATAPULT TO FIRE. Narrator: THE EVALUATORS EXPECT JODY TO REACT WITH SPLIT-SECOND TIMING. HE HAS TO USE EXACTLY THE RIGHT HAND SIGNALS TO SHUT DOWN THE CATAPULT BEFORE IT DUMPS THE PLANE IN THE OCEAN. Jody: SO THERE'S A SET OF PROCEDURES WE'LL GO THROUGH, AND WE'LL PRACTICE THOSE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THEM RIGHT. Narrator: JODY GIVES THE SIGNAL. BUT THE CATAPULT IS NOT RESPONDING TO HIS SHUTDOWN ORDER. SOMETHING HAS GONE WRONG. IN COMBAT, A $70 MILLION JET WOULD HAVE JUST CRASHED INTO THE SEA. THE TEAM WANTS TO KNOW... WHO JUST MADE A FATAL MISTAKE? USS NIMITZ IS GEARING UP TO HEAD INTO A WAR ZONE, AND THE TRAINING IS GETTING INTENSE. SOMETHING HAS GONE WRONG DURING THE CATAPULT DRILL. Jody: THINGS NEVER HAPPEN THE WAY YOU EXPECT THEM TO IN A DRILL. Narrator: LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JODY SMOTHERMAN'S JOB IS TO DIRECT PILOTS AS THEY LAUNCH OFF THE FLIGHT DECK. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO SHUT DOWN A MALFUNCTIONING CATAPULT TO PREVENT A JET FROM CRASHING INTO THE SEA. BUT THE CATAPULT DID NOT RESPOND. Jody: I...UP THE SIGNALS TO THE PLANE. Narrator: HE MIXED UP HIS HAND SIGNALS. Jody: I DON'T HAVE A PLANE TO RESPOND TO. Man: EXACTLY, IT'S HARD TO SEE THE SHUTTLE GO AFT. Jody: AND THEN TRYING TO CALL UP THERE... THAT'S MY FAULT. IT WAS A SIGNAL. INSTEAD OF GIVING THIS AND THEN THIS AND THEN THIS. BASICALLY I DIDN'T GIVE THE SIGNALS EXACTLY THE RIGHT ORDER. Narrator: IT IS A SIMPLE MIX-UP, BUT IT COULD HAVE ACCIDENTALLY LAUNCHED A $70 MILLION JET AND ITS PILOT INTO THE SEA. JODY HAS LET THE TEAM DOWN. Jody: EVERYBODY TAKES A LOT OF PRIDE IN WHAT THEY DO. THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S DONE RIGHT EVERY TIME. AND SO WHEN YOU DON'T DO IT PERFECT, IT'S, HEY, I DIDN'T DO IT WELL, AND I'M BRINGING DOWN EVERYBODY BECAUSE I DIDN'T DO IT AS WELL AS I COULD HAVE. Narrator: THE EVALUATORS STEP IN. THEY WILL KEEP JODY AND HIS TEAM ON THE FLIGHT DECK FOR HOURS, MAKING THEM PRACTICE THE DRILL UNTIL EVERY DETAIL IS PERFECT. Mark Henderson: THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE MISTAKE WAS MADE, WE'RE CORRECTING IT, AND WE'RE GOING TO RE-DO IT AGAIN. Narrator: FINALLY, JODY NAILS THE DRILL, AND IT IS TIME TO HEAD BELOW. AT THE END OF A LONG, HARD DAY, IT WILL BE GOOD TO GET HOME... IF YOU CAN FIND YOUR WAY. DOWN HERE IS A 4.5-MILE MAZE OF CORRIDORS. EVEN IF YOU'VE BEEN ON BOARD FOR WEEKS, YOU CAN GET LOST. COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST TRAMAINE WILKES HAS BEEN ON BOARD FOR TWO YEARS, AND HE'S STILL IMPRESSED. Tramaine Wilkes: MAN, THIS SHIP IS HUGE, MAN. IT'S A BIG... IT'S A BIG CHUNK OF METAL. I COULDN'T EVEN TELL YOU HOW MANY FEET IT IS, BUT IF YOU'VE GOT TO WALK FROM THE AFT, ALL THE WAY FROM THE BACK OF THE SHIP TO THE FORWARD OF THE SHIP, YOU'RE PRETTY MUCH UPSET WITH YOURSELF. Narrator: FOR KENNETH LILES, AN AVIATION TECHNICIAN FROM A SMALL TOWN IN TEXAS, THE SHEER SIZE IS PRETTY OVERWHELMING. Kenneth Liles: I GREW UP AROUND SHRIMPING BOATS THAT WERE ONE-SIXTEENTH THE SIZE OF THIS. AND IT'S JUST... IT'S CRAZY. I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE BIGGEST BOAT OF MY LIFE UNTIL I JOINED THE NAVY. Narrator: THE HANGAR BAYS ARE THE SIZE OF TWO FOOTBALL FIELDS AND CAN HOLD OVER 75 AIRCRAFT. Liles: MY HIGH SCHOOL IS PROBABLY THE SIZE OF HANGAR BAY TWO. Narrator: AND NIMITZ'S AMENITIES RIVAL ANYTHING HIS HOMETOWN COULD OFFER. Kenneth: AND JUST KNOWING THAT THIS THOUSAND-PLUS-LONG BOAT HOLDS 5,000 PEOPLE, AND IT'S GOT EVERYTHING YOU NEED, IT'S INSANE. IT'S HARD TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY MANAGED TO MAKE ALL OF THIS FIT ON SOMETHING THIS SIZE. Narrator: LIFE ON A SUPER CARRIER IS SUPER SIZED. NIMITZ HAS EIGHT KITCHENS THAT SERVE 20,000 MEALS A DAY. IT GOES THROUGH 800 LOAVES OF BREAD, 600 GALLONS OF MILK, 180 DOZEN EGGS, 620 POUNDS OF HAMBURGERS. THERE IS A POST OFFICE THAT PROCESSES 400 TONS OF MAIL EACH YEAR... A GYM... AND TWO CONVENIENCE STORES. BUT THERE IS NO CASH ONBOARD. EVERYONE PAYS WITH THEIR NAVY DEBIT CARD. BUT HAIRCUTS ARE FREE. THE BARBERSHOP TRIMS 1,500 HEADS A WEEK. AND THE LAUNDRY WASHES 2.5 TONS OF CLOTHES A DAY. Chris McIntosh: WE DON'T WANT NOBODY WALKING AROUND HERE STINKING, SO IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THIS OPEN. Tramaine: HYGIENE IS A BIG THING ON THE SHIP, MAN. SOME PEOPLE DON'T TAKE SHOWERS IN A COUPLE DAYS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TIME, OR THEY'RE WORKING, OR THEY'RE JUST LAZY. IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE PERSON. Narrator: THE CREW'S SLEEPING QUARTERS GIVE NEW MEANING TO THE WORD "COMPACT." Tramaine: SO, THIS WOULD BE WHERE I SLEEP, RIGHT HERE. IT'S ABOUT A THREE-BY-SIX. AND THEN WE GOT TO PUT OUR CLOTHES IN THIS LOCKER. SO YOU HAVE TO FIT ALMOST ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD WEAR INSIDE THIS LITTLE LOCKER. Narrator: THE ENLISTED CREW SHARE COMPARTMENTS THAT SLEEP SIX. Tramaine: WE SLEEP THREE UP. THERE'S ONE PERSON DOWN THERE, THERE'S A PERSON RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE, AND THEN THERE'S A PERSON ON THE TOP. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IT AIN'T TOO MUCH SPACE TO GET CHANGED, SO YOU EITHER WAKE UP EARLIER THAN EVERYBODY, YOU WAKE UP LATER THAN EVERYBODY, OR YOU WAKE UP AT THE SAME TIME AND YOU'RE JUST FRUSTRATED BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING. Narrator: THE CREW WORKS LONG HOURS. WITH SHIFTS AROUND THE CLOCK, THIS AIRPORT NEVER CLOSES. Kekoa Kramer: FOR THE GALLEY, IT'S A 24-HOUR OPERATION. UNDERWAY WE DO BREAKFAST, WE DO LUNCH, WE DO DINNER, AND WE DO MID-RATS-- MIDNIGHT RATIONS, AS THEY CALL IT. SO, YES, THERE IS A MEAL EVERY 24 HOURS, FOR 24 HOURS, THERE IS A MEAL GOING ALL DAY. Narrator: 24-HOUR SERVICE IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PILOTS, WHO OFTEN FLY AT ODD HOURS AND ALWAYS COME HOME HUNGRY. THEY TEND TO STICK WITH THEIR SQUADRON AT MEALTIME. Man: I DIDN'T THINK THE TRAINING ENVIRONMENT WAS GOING TO BE SET THIS EARLY. Narrator: THE PILOTS ARE THE ONLY CREW WHO LEAVE THE SHIP WHILE NIMITZ IS AT SEA, AND THAT GIVES THEM A UNIQUE VIEW OF THE WORLD. Cyndi: WHEN YOU'RE 12,000 FEET OVERHEAD, CIRCLING THE LAND, IT PUTS IT IN PERSPECTIVE. OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN, BLUE AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE, AND YOU LOOK DOWN AND THERE'S YOUR SHIP, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO LAND ON, THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SLEEP TONIGHT, THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO EAT AND CARRY OUT YOUR LIFE. Narrator: THE PILOTS HAVE PERKS THAT MOST OF THE CREW DON'T, LIKE EXTRA SPACE. Cyndi: WE'RE IN THE TOP HATTER READY ROOM HERE. AGAIN, THIS IS BASICALLY OUR LIVING ROOM WHILE WE'RE OUT AT SEA. Narrator: IT IS JUST LIKE A CLUBHOUSE, AND MOVIE NIGHTS HERE ARE A CHANCE TO RELAX AND BOND. Cyndi: THESE 15 GUYS, THEIR FACES WE'RE GOING TO SEE FOR THE NEXT YEAR. SO IF YOU DON'T LIKE THEM, TOUGH, YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO LIKE THEM. IT'S LIKE A FAMILY, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT. Narrator: BUT FIGHTER PILOTS NEVER REALLY SLACK OFF. PRECISION IS PART OF LIFE, EVEN WHEN IT COMES TO STARTING THE MOVIE ON TIME. TONIGHT, IT'S CYNDI'S TURN TO FIRE IT UP. Cyndi: WAITING ON XO'S CALL. Man: FIVE, FOUR, THREE... Men: AWWWW! BOO! ROOKIE! Cyndi: OH, SEE THAT? IT'S A BRUTAL CROWD. YOU'VE GOT TO BE ON AND ON HERE AT ALL TIME. Narrator: THEY NEED TO LET OFF STEAM. Cyndi: IF YOU'RE NOT FLYING, THIS IS PROBABLY THE SECOND BEST THING, JUST TO LET YOUR MIND GO FOR A WHILE, NOT FOCUS ON ALL THE STUFF, ALL THE WORK AND EVERYTHING WE NEED TO DO OUT HERE. Narrator: TOMORROW THEY'LL FLY AGAIN, AND EVERYONE WILL BE ON HIGH ALERT. A ROOKIE PILOT WILL ATTEMPT HIS FIRST-EVER MISSION ON NIMITZ. USS NIMITZ IS CRANKING UP FOR HER MOST DANGEROUS TRAINING EXERCISE SO FAR. TODAY, A ROOKIE PILOT WILL PERFORM HIS FIRST-EVER TAKEOFF AND LANDING-- NOT A JOB FOR THE FAINT-HEARTED. DURING CYCLIC OPS, JETS COME AND GO EVERY 45 SECONDS, MAKING THIS THE BUSIEST AIRPORT IN THE WORLD. Cyndi: MOST IMPORTANT PART OF FLIGHT OPS TODAY IS, AS EVERY DAY, IS TO HAVE JUST AS MANY PEOPLE AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT YOU STARTED WITH. Narrator: OUT ON THE FLIGHT DECK, JODY SMOTHERMAN IS PREPARING TO LAUNCH AIRCRAFT. WITH YESTERDAY'S CATAPULT DRILL BEHIND HIM, HE'S READY FOR ACTION. Jody: YOU THINK ABOUT IT, YOU LEARN FROM IT, BUT WILL I BE SITTING HERE GOING, "MAN, I CAN'T BELIEVE I DID THAT"? NO, YOU WON'T, BECAUSE IF YOU DO, THEN YOU'LL SCREW IT UP AGAIN. Narrator: HE SAFETY CHECKS THE ARRESTING CABLES. Jody: WE'LL CHECK ALL THE ARRESTING GEAR CABLES AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE IN GOOD SHAPE, READY FOR RECOVERY. Narrator: THE TOP HATTERS SQUADRON IS GETTING READY TO BREAK IN THEIR ROOKIE. Cyndi: WE HAVE A BRAND-NEW GUY. THEY USUALLY CALL THEM FNGs OR NUGGETS. THE FNG IS A SLANG FOR "EFFIN' NEW GUY." Narrator: THE NEW GUY IS 27-YEAR-OLD LIEUTENANT DAN MARTA. Cyndi: TILL THEY GET THEIR LITTLE BIT OF TIME IN THE SQUADRON, THEY GET TO WEAR THE PROUD FNG NAMETAG. Narrator: LIEUTENANT MARTA IS SO NEW, HE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A CALL SIGN YET. HE WAS A STAR IN FIGHTER SCHOOL, BUT OUT HERE, HE'LL HAVE TO PROVE HIMSELF ALL OVER AGAIN. Dan Marta: BEING A NEW GUY, I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF TIMES I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I DON'T KNOW. AND YOU LEARN A LOT... TONS FROM THE SENIOR PILOTS IN THIS SQUADRON, FROM HEARING WHAT THEY SAY TO US AND FROM GOING OUT AND DOING IT. Cyndi: YOU CAN ONLY PREPARE SO MUCH FOR SOMETHING YOU'VE NEVER DONE. IT'S UP TO THE SENIOR PILOTS TO GIVE THEM THE OTHER PIECE OF THE PUZZLE THERE TO CONTINUE THAT EDUCATION. Cyndi: IT'S LIKE DRINKING FROM A FIRE HOSE FOR THEM-- THINGS THAT THEY HAVEN'T SEEN ARE GOING TO POP UP ALMOST EVERY HOUR AND CERTAINLY ON EVERY FLIGHT THEY FLY ON CYCLIC OPS. Narrator: BEFORE THEY START FLYING, ANOTHER CRITICAL SAFETY CHECK. HUNDREDS OF SAILORS COVER EVERY INCH OF THE DECK LOOKING FOR FOREIGN OBJECT DEBRIS, FOD FOR SHORT. Cyndi: FOD IS VERY DEADLY TO AIR CREW AND ALSO PERSONNEL ON THE FLIGHT DECK. Narrator: DEBRIS COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE TO BLOW UP. PILOTS OR DECK CREW COULD DIE BECAUSE OF SOMETHING AS SMALL AS A STRAY RIVET OR BOLT. FOD WALKS ARE SO IMPORTANT, THEY WILL DO FIVE A DAY, EVERY DAY. ALL OVER THE SHIP, SQUADRON COMMANDERS ARE BRIEFING PILOTS ON THEIR MISSIONS AND THE MANY HAZARDS THEY WILL FACE TODAY. THERE IS PRESSURE ON ALL OF THE PILOTS, BUT THE ROOKIES ARE FEELING IT MOST. Cyndi: A SQUADRON'S ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR NEWEST GUY, YOUR LEAST EXPERIENCED GUY, AND ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW AS WE'RE STARTING TO PUSH AND MOVE TOWARDS DEPLOYMENT WHERE WE'LL BE GOING INTO COMBAT OPERATIONS, EVERYBODY HAS A VESTED INTEREST TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE GUYS ARE UP TO SPEED AND THAT THEY'RE ALSO STAYING TACTICALLY PROFICIENT. Man: GET IT DONE, GUYS. GET THE SMOOTH SCHEDULE... Narrator: DAN HAS TO PROVE HE CAN HANDLE THE STRESS OF CYCLIC OPS ON A SUPER CARRIER. HIS MISSION: A MOCK BOMBING RUN. EVERY EYE WILL BE ON HIM AS HE ATTEMPTS HIS FIRST CARRIER LAUNCH. Cyndi: YOU CAN'T BE SLOPPY OUT THERE. IT'S NOT A LONG RUNWAY. IT'S A VERY SMALL LANDING AREA, 500 FEET. Dan: SO MANY LITTLE THINGS THAT WE CAN SCREW UP THAT CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON OUR MISSION, AND OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO IRON THAT OUT NOW. Narrator: IT'S SHOW TIME. DAN ROARS DOWN THE RUNWAY AND LIFTS OFF... FROM ZERO TO 165 MILES AN HOUR IN A BRAIN-RATTLING TWO SECONDS. BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE ROOKIES WHO ARE CONSTANTLY TESTED AND GRADED. CYNDI ISN'T HAPPY WITH HIS TRAINING REPORT CARD. RIGHT NOW, HE RANKS IN THE BOTTOM HALF OF HIS 16-MAN SQUADRON. HE HAS CLOSE TO 300 SUCCESSFUL CARRIER LANDINGS, BUT LATELY HE'S BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS. Cyndi: I DIDN'T DO SO WELL GETTING BACK INTO IT HERE, SO I'D SAY I'M NUMBER TEN IN THE SQUADRON RIGHT NOW. USUALLY I'M MUCH BETTER THAN THAT, SO I'VE GOT SOME STUFF TO WORK ON. Narrator: CYNDI IS UP NEXT. HIS G-SUIT IS A SOPHISTICATED PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. BUT IT'S THE HELMET THAT IS TRULY SPACE-AGE. Cyndi: ALL RIGHT, BASICALLY WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE IS THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN TECHNOLOGY. IT'S CALLED THE JOINT HELMET MOUNTED CUEING SYSTEM. Narrator: THIS COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM PROJECTS DATA ONTO THE HELMET'S VISOR, ENABLING THE PILOT TO AIM AND LOCK WEAPONS ON A TARGET SIMPLY BY LOOKING AT IT. Cyndi: SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS ABOUT $150,000. SO YOU'RE WEARING QUITE A BIT OF... QUITE A BIT OF BLING ON YOUR HEAD, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY. BUT IT'S WELL WORTH IT, AND THE BENEFITS OF IT ARE INCREDIBLE. WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT AND GO FLYING RIGHT NOW, AND I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO CAT SHOTS. Narrator: IT'S A ONE-OF-A-KIND THRILL. Cyndi: THAT ACCELERATION, WHEN YOU GET LAUNCHED OFF THE FRONT END AND YOU'RE IN A $70 MILLION JET FLYING 300 FEET OFF THE WATER ACCELERATING, OUT TO GO DO SOME COOL STUFF IN THE AIR, THERE'S NOTHING ELSE LIKE THAT. Narrator: BUT IT'S A THRILL THAT CAN QUICKLY TURN TO TERROR. Cyndi: SO, IT'S... IF YOU'RE SLEEPY, IF YOU'RE HAVING A BAD DAY, GETTING SHOT OFF THE FRONT END, THAT'LL CHANGE IT ALL REAL QUICK. Narrator: CYNDI'S MISSION IS A SIMULATED DOGFIGHT IN AN F-18 THAT CAN REACH MACH 1.8, ALMOST TWICE THE SPEED OF SOUND. UP ON THE BRIDGE, CAPTAIN MANAZIR HAS A LOT TO OVERSEE. BUT RECOVERY, OR LANDING THE F-18s SAFELY, IS HIS JOB NUMBER ONE. Captain: THERE'S A MANAGEMENT OF AIRPLANES LANDING, AIRCRAFT MALFUNCTIONS, MANAGING THE SAFE RECOVERY CONDITIONS, INFORMATION FROM THE OFFICER OF THE DECK. I TYPICALLY CONCENTRATE ON LANDING AIRPLANES. Narrator: THE FIRST PLANES HAVE COMPLETED THEIR MANEUVERS AND ARE HEADING BACK. THE DECK CREW IS ALWAYS ON ALERT FOR POSSIBLE TROUBLE. David Mack: YOU DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO COME TOO LOW OR TOO HIGH, OR RIGHT ON THE SPOT, BECAUSE SOME OF THEM COME SO LOW THAT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE ABOUT TO HIT US. Zachary Norman: YOU NEVER KNOW. YOU ALWAYS GOT TO KEEP YOUR HEAD ON A SWIVEL, STAY ON YOUR TOES... PRETTY MUCH LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER. Narrator: WHEN THEIR LANDING GEAR HITS THE DECK, A CARRIER PILOT HAS TO FIGHT THE INSTINCT TO BRAKE. THEY HAVE TO PUSH THEIR ENGINES TO FULL POWER, SO IF THEY MISS THE WIRE, THEY WILL HAVE THE SPEED TO GET AIRBORNE, FAST. IT'S CALLED A BOLTER. NIMITZ'S FLIGHT DECK IS ANGLED AT 14 DEGREES TO THE REST OF THE SHIP. THAT ALLOWS BOLTERS TO GET BACK IN THE AIR WITHOUT SMASHING INTO PLANES PARKED ON THE FORWARD SECTIONS OF THE DECK. MISSING A LANDING CAN BE DISASTROUS. IN 1987, A JET SLAMMED INTO THE FLIGHT DECK AND SKIDDED OVER THE EDGE INTO THE SEA. THE ACCIDENT KILLED SEVEN CREW ON DECK. AND NOW THE DECK CREW WAITS AS LIEUTENANT DAN MARTA GETS READY TO ATTEMPT HIS FIRST-EVER CAREER LANDING. HE HAS BEEN AIRBORNE FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF AND IS ABOUT TO FACE ONE OF THE MOST NERVE-WRACKING MOMENTS OF HIS LIFE. THE ARRESTING CABLES ARE SET FOR HIS F-18. THE LANDING SIGNAL OFFICERS, LSOs, WATCH HIS EVERY MOVE, READY TO GRADE HIS LANDING. BUT DAN IS NOT IN FOR AN EASY RIDE. THE DECK IS PITCHING CLOSE TO 10 FEET, AND HE'S FIGHTING A SHARP CROSSWIND. CHALLENGING CONDITIONS. BUT IT LOOKS LIKE ALL OF DAN'S TRAINING HAS PAID OFF. HIS LANDING IS DEAD-ON. THE SQUADRON'S NEWEST MEMBER HAS PASSED HIS FIRST BIG TEST. NOW CYNDI THE VETERAN GETS READY TO LAND AFTER TWO HOURS OF DOG-FIGHTING PRACTICE. HE'S PERFORMED HUNDREDS OF LANDINGS, BUT THIS PART OF THE JOB IS NEVER ROUTINE. Cyndi: WHATEVER YOU DID IN THE AIR DOESN'T MATTER. YOU KNOW YOU'RE ABOUT TO COME CRASHING DOWN ONTO A BOAT SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN. SOME NIGHTS YOU REALLY ARE, "I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M ABOUT TO DO THIS." Narrator: THIS IS ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS. ON HIS APPROACH, CYNDI RUNS INTO TROUBLE. HE RADIOS THAT HE'S HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HIS OXYGEN MASK. AND THEN THE RADIO GOES DEAD. HIS PLANE IS APPROACHING FAST, AND NO ONE IN FLIGHT CONTROL KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON. IT'S BEEN A FULL DAY OF FLYING ON USS NIMITZ, AND NOW THE JETS ARE COMING HOME. BUT ONE OF THEM IS HAVING TROUBLE. LIEUTENANT MIKE STOCK, CALL SIGN CYNDI, HAS LOST RADIO CONTACT WITH FLIGHT CONTROL. THE LAST THING THEY HEARD, CYNDI WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH HIS OXYGEN MASK. NOW THERE'S NO WAY TO COMMUNICATE AS HE APPROACHES THE FLIGHT DECK AT 165 MILES AN HOUR. CYNDI'S APPROACH IS A LITTLE TOO HIGH. HE MISSES THE ARRESTING CABLE AND IS FORCED TO BOLT OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. SUDDENLY, HIS RADIO STARTS WORKING AGAIN, AND HE IS ABLE TO RE-ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH FLIGHT CONTROL. IT IS A HUGE RELIEF. [INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER] [SIREN] CYNDI CIRCLES HIS SUPER HORNET AROUND TO MAKE ANOTHER APPROACH. HE FIGHTS TO KEEP THE PLANE IN THE CROSS HAIRS OF THE FLIGHT DECK. HIS TAIL HOOK GRABS THE ARRESTING WIRES, AND CYNDI IS BROUGHT TO A BONE-RATTLING STOP. IT TURNS OUT THAT CYNDI'S PROBLEMS WERE CAUSED BY AN EQUIPMENT FAILURE. Cyndi: MY OXYGEN HOSE CAME UNDONE, SO IMAGINE HAVING THIS IN YOUR FACE AND GOING FOR AIR, AND NOTHING HAPPENED THERE. SO I TRIED TO TALK, AND THIS HAS YOUR COMMUNICATIONS, TOO. SO I GAVE THEM A LITTLE FLASH OF THE TAXI LIGHT AND JUST TOOK IT AROUND TO TROUBLESHOOT. NO SENSE LANDING WITHOUT A MASK IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG IN YOUR JET. Narrator: THE LSO EVALUATORS ARRIVE TO REVIEW HIS FLIGHT PERFORMANCE. Cyndi: DID YOU GET THE WORD WITH MY FLASHING LIGHT? Man: YES, I DID. ALRIGHT. 204, FIRST PASS, OVERSHOOTING START, UNDERLINE, BUT NO COUNT THERE FOR THE LACK OF OXYGEN WITH THE HOSE. Narrator: THE EVALUATORS CUT HIM SOME SLACK BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WITH HIS MASK. BUT HIS SQUADRON ISN'T GOING TO LET HIM GET OFF THAT EASY. Cyndi: ANY LITTLE THING YOU DO WRONG, YOU CAN BET THAT EVERY OTHER GUY ON THE BOAT'S GOING TO MAKE FUN OF YOU FOR IT, SO... Narrator: CYNDI IS GOING TO GET THE BOLTER'S *** PRIZE, A FIGHTER PILOT'S DUNCE CAP. Man: FIRST OF ALL, SHOW IT. SHOW IT HERE. THERE WE GO. AND THEN WE PULL THIS OFF... HERE'S YOUR NAMETAG. Cyndi: GOT TO TAKE IT LIKE A MAN. OH, THAT'S SOME... NOW I'M MAD. Narrator: IT'S A BONDING MOMENT FOR THE SQUADRON. THE VETERAN CYNDI HAS TO TAKE THE HECKLING WHILE DAN THE ROOKIE BASKS IN THE AFTERGLOW OF A SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT. Dan: THE CAT SHOT WAS REALLY WHAT BLEW ME AWAY. UM...YEAH, I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT. I'M USUALLY A VERY QUIET GUY IN THE JET, AND I SCREAMED LIKE A LITTLE GIRL. Narrator: BACK ON DECK, THE CREW PREPARES FOR A NIGHT MISSION. LESS VISIBILITY MEANS LESS ROOM FOR ERROR. THE CAPTAIN REMINDS HIS CREW THAT FLYING IN THE DARK BRINGS NEW CHALLENGES, SO PREPARE ACCORDINGLY. Captain: WE'RE DOING SOME NIGHT FLIGHT OPS TONIGHT, INHERENTLY RISKY, SO LET'S MAKE SURE IF YOU'RE INVOLVED IN ALL OF THOSE, YOU GET OUT THERE AND GET HYDRATED AND GET YOUR MEAL TONIGHT, AND THEN WHEN WE GET GOING IN THE NIGHT, YOU'RE READY TO GO. WATCH OUT FOR EACH OTHER. WE STILL HAVE A FAIRLY NEW TEAM. LET'S BACK EACH OTHER UP. PROUD OF YOU. THAT'S ALL. Narrator: LIEUTENANT TOM BOOTH, CALL SIGN ALF, IS A ROOKIE IN THE WARHAWKS SQUADRON. IT IS HIS 26th BIRTHDAY, AND HE IS ABOUT TO SPEND IT DOING THE RISKIEST FLYING THERE IS. IT IS HIS FIRST NIGHT FLIGHT OFF A CARRIER. COMMANDER MARC PRESTON HELPS HIM PREPARE MENTALLY. Marc Preston: I TOLD HIM THAT, I SAID YOU'D BETTER BE SCARED AND YOU BETTER BE NERVOUS, AND IF YOU ARE BOTH, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SUCCESS TONIGHT. IF YOU'RE NOT, IF YOU'RE NOT THAT WAY, THEN YOU ARE IN A BIG WORLD OF HURT. Tom Booth: DEFINITELY SCARED, NERVOUS, BUT EXCITED AT THE SAME TIME. Narrator: ANTICIPATION CAN BE THE WORST PART. Alf: SITTING ON A DARK CATAPULT AND TURNING THE LIGHT SWITCH ON AND KNOWING IN ABOUT SIX TO SEVEN SECONDS, THERE'S GOING TO BE A VERY STRONG CAT SHOT INTO A BLACK, BLACK HOLE. Narrator: HE'S OFF. ALF ROCKETS DOWN THE RUNWAY AND LIFTS OFF INTO THE NIGHT SKY. IN PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROL, AIR BOSS ERIC WRIGHT IS ON HIGH ALERT. HE'S LIKE A SUPER AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER, OVERSEEING BOTH THE PLANES AND THE FLIGHT DECK. Eric Wright: MY JOB BASICALLY IS TO COORDINATE THE LANDING OF THE AIRPLANES AND THE LAUNCHING OF THE AIRPLANES, AND KEEPING IT SAFE, KEEPING IT COORDINATED. IT'S A VERY, VERY HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENT. Narrator: THE DECK CREW IS WORKING IN MINIMAL LIGHT THAT MAKES IT HARDER FOR AN ENEMY TO SPOT THE SHIP. DURING HIS TWO-HOUR MISSION, ALF HONES HIS FIRING SKILLS IN THE F-18. NOW IT'S TIME TO HEAD BACK TO BASE. COMMANDER PRESTON CAN ONLY HOPE THAT ALF HAS ABSORBED EVERYTHING HE'S BEEN TAUGHT ABOUT NIGHT LANDINGS. Marc: LANDING ON A CARRIER IS THE EPITOME OF A CONTROLLED CRASH. YOU BASICALLY SLAM THE THING DOWN AT, YOU NOW, AT 700 FOOT PER MINUTE RATE OF DESCENT RIGHT INTO THE DECK. Narrator: THE WAVES ARE PICKING UP, AND THE FLIGHT DECK IS PITCHING HEAVILY. ALF'S LANDING JUST WENT FROM RISKY TO DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS. Eric: THERE'S A HUNDRED DIFFERENT THINGS THAT CAN GO WRONG, AND WE ALWAYS KEEP AN EYE ON THEM SO HOPEFULLY THEY DON'T COST US ANY PEOPLE OR PARTS OR THINGS. Narrator: IN THIS BLACKNESS, THERE'S NO HORIZON LINE. IT'S DISORIENTING, SO ALF WILL HAVE TO RELY ON INSTRUMENTS AND TRAINING TO LAND ON A ROLLING DECK HE CANNOT SEE. ON HIS 26th BIRTHDAY, ROOKIE LIEUTENANT TOM BOOTH, CALL SIGN ALF, LINES UP TO LAND. BUT THE FLIGHT DECK ON USS NIMITZ IS PITCHING IN THE DARK. FLIGHT CONTROL IS CONCERNED. Eric: OUT HERE THE SEAS OFTEN ARE CALM, BUT TONIGHT THEY WERE PITCHING BETWEEN 8 AND 12 FEET. Narrator: JUST BELOW DECK, THE CREW MANNING THE ARRESTING CABLES ARE READY FOR ANYTHING. Man: THERE'S A COUPLE MORE PLANES COMING IN. RIGHT NOW YOU CAN SEE ONE RIGHT THERE AT THE TOP. Narrator: IT'S ALF. [INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER] ALF'S TRAINING KICKS IN. [INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER] [SIREN] Man: LITTLE POWER. Narrator: THE ARRESTING CABLES DO THEIR JOB. A SOLID LANDING IN TOUGH CONDITIONS. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALF. Marc: WE WENT OUT FOR OUR FIRST FLEET... FLEET NIGHT TRAP FOR YOUNG LIEUTENANT J.G. BOOTH, CALL SIGN ALF, AND HE DID FANTASTIC. Alf: MOST MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY. YEAH, DEFINITELY. Narrator: TO ALF, THE MOST EXCITING PART WAS THE CATAPULT SHOT. Alf: I THINK TAKING OFF, BY FAR, WAS THE...IS... BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. Marc: AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL. Alf: AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL. IT'S JUST A COMPLETE RIDE. YOU'VE GOT, I DON'T KNOW, ZERO TO 170 MILES AN HOUR, AND YOU HAVE ZERO VISUAL REFERENCE. YOU'VE GOT... IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST... ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING. Narrator: STILL WIRED FROM THE RIDE. BUT HIS FLIGHT DECK CREW BRING HIM BACK TO EARTH. IT'S AFTER MIDNIGHT, AND DAN, CYNDI, AND ALF ARE ALL SAFELY HOME ON BOARD NIMITZ. BUT THEY ARE STILL ALL WIDE AWAKE, AND DAN'S INITIATION ISN'T OVER YET. HE STILL DOESN'T HAVE A CALL SIGN. Dan: USUALLY YOU GET A CALL SIGN FROM EITHER DOING SOMETHING STUPID IN OR OUT OF THE JET OR YOUR LAST NAME JUST RHYMES WITH SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF AMUSING. SO... Alf: WHENEVER YOU GET TOO BIG OF A HEAD OR YOU START THINKING BIG OF YOURSELF, EVERY TIME THEY CALL YOU YOUR CALL SIGN, IT'S LIKE, "OH, YEAH. I DID THAT. I DID SOMETHING STUPID." Narrator: CYNDI HAS COME UP WITH AN IDEA FOR DAN'S CALL SIGN. Cyndi: MARTA GOES AHEAD AND SAYS, "I'M A QUIET GUY, BUT I SCREAMED LIKE A LITTLE GIRL GOING DOWN THE CAT SHOT." WHICH IF YOU TAKE THOSE LETTERS INTO SLAG, "SCREAMS LIKE A GIRL," YOU MAKE A NICE LITTLE CALL SIGN. Narrator: DAN MARTA, CALL SIGN SLAG. HE'S NOW OFFICIALLY ONE OF THE SQUADRON. PILOT TRAINING WILL GO ON FOR MONTHS. NIMITZ WILL LAUNCH AND RECOVER AIRCRAFT UNTIL THE NAVY IS SATISFIED SHE CAN GO TO WAR. WHEN SHE'S READY, CAPTAIN MANAZIR CAN DELIVER NIMITZ TO THE NORTH ARABIAN SEA WITHIN A WEEK, HER F-18s SCREAMING IN TO BATTLE THE ENEMY. Captain: THE EXCITEMENT FOR DEPLOYMENT, FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN ON DEPLOYMENT BEFORE, THE EXCITEMENT OF GOING ON DEPLOYMENT IS PRETTY HIGH. WE'RE SUPPORTING TROOPS ON THE GROUND, WE'RE FIGHTING THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM, THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT, THAT'S BIGGER THAN THEM, AND THEY LIKE DOING THAT. Narrator: IT WILL BE A SIX-MONTH DEPLOYMENT, BUT WITH HER TWO NUCLEAR REACTORS, THIS MIGHTY SHIP CAN STAY AT SEA INDEFINITELY. UNTIL SHE DOES GO, HER CREW WILL KEEP ON TRAINING. BUT WHEN THE CALL COMES, USS NIMITZ WILL BE THE MOST LETHAL, EFFICIENT FIGHTING MACHINE ON THE PLANET.