One rule says that a fighter must land during the non-combat movement phase (which is before deployment). Under Non-combat movement, it says that “You must have a carrier … be placed to pick up a fighter that would end it’s non-combat move in a sea zone”. So if during non-combat movement, I declare the fighter will return to SZ7 (where the carrier will be), it can land on it.
Actually, the rules say that fighters must be in “an eligible landing space” by the end of noncombat movement. Such a space can include a sea zone where a carrier will be mobilized.
Kriegshund knows his rules (Rulebook, page 26 confirms)
But, at the risk of doing blasphemy :wink:: I’m always wondering a little bit about this line of argumentation. In my understanding, the fighter should not be allowed to land on a carrier mobilized in the mobilization phase. The “eligible landing space” should fit to “…the end of the NCM phase”. In my opinion, the fighter should land at the end of the NCM. At that special point of the turn within the NCM there should be an eligible landing space. A fighter should not be allowed to “land” in the mobilization phase, because landing is the final part of moving and moving ends at the end of the NCM. In the example stated above, the fighter could only land on water at the end of the NCM… when the CV is yet layed on keel in the shipyard.