Reference for Pathfinder Operations
FM 3-21.38
Reference for Airborne and Air Assault Operations
FM 3-99
HLZ Considerations
Tactical and
... [Show More] Technical
Technical selection factors
Landing formations, Surface conditions, Obstacles, Approach and departure routes, Atmospheric conditions, Type of Load
Size of HLZ factors
Size/type of A/C, Pilot/unit proficiency, Day/Night Ops, Atmospheric Conditions (Humidity, Altitude, Temperature)
TDP Size 1 Diameter and Type of A/C
25 Meters, OH-6, OH-58, MH-6, AH-6, UH-72A
TDP Size 2 Diameter and Type of A/C
35 meters, AH-1W/Z, UH-1N/Y
TDP Size 3 Diameter and Type of A/C
50 meters, UH-60, AH-64, SH-60, MH-60 (All 60 series)
TDP Size 4 Diameter and Type of A/C
80 meters, All Cargo A/C, MV/CV-22B
TDP Size 5 Diameter and Type of A/C
100 meters, all daytime SL, A/C of unknown origin, A/C using Land-Safe Systems
TDP Size 6 Diameter and Type of A/C
125 meters, all SL using long lines
TDP size 7 Diameter and Type of A/C
150 meters, all night SL, SL A/C using Land-Safe
Landing Formations
Trail, Echelon Left, Echelon Right, Heavy Right, Heavy Left, Diamond, Vee, Staggered Trail Right, Staggered Trail Left
What Surface conditions are required?
Firm enough to support weight of A/C and free of loose sand, snow, debris (use Alabama Heel stomp. Max of 2 inches)
Minimum characteristics of obstacle
18" high, wide or deep. Slope considered obstacle
Four R's
Remove, reduce, red (mark), Radio (advise pilot)
Where should you attempt to land A/C on slope
Upslope
Ground Slope Restrictions
0-7 degrees - no restrictions
7-15 degrees - skid A/C terminate at hover. wheeled A/C issued advisory and land upslope
over 15 degrees - all a/c terminate at hover
Slope formula
(Difference in elevation/ horizontal distance) * 57.3
How should approaches be made?
Long axis of HLZ and into the wind
Obstacle Buffer Ratio
10:1 or 100 meters max
5:1 or 50 meters if you may reduce
Wind max
0-9 knots cross wind
0-5 knots tail wind
departure heading varying maximum
45 degrees
Atmospheric Conditions
Humidity, Altitude above sea level, temperature
Type of load
Internal, External, Personnel, Equipment
Types of markings of Night OPs
Inverted Y and NATO T
When is 5th light used on Inverted Y?
All Cargo A/C
How many lights needed and when is NATO T used?
5 lights. When coordinated for or flying above 500 feet AGL
How much total length is added when NATO T is used?
20 meters
Distances of Inverted Y? 5th light distance?
14 meters horizontal, 14 meters vertical and then 7 meters vertical. 7 meters if on top and 10 meters if bottom right
Distances of NATO T lights?
10 meters between all lights
Additional Aircraft light distances and location.
5 meters for non-cargo. 10 meters for cargo. both are right of the A/C
SL landing light distances and locations
5 meters between triangle, 25 meters to TDP with no SL. 10 meters to right are landing lights at 10 meters apart.
5 meters between triangle, 25 meters to SL TDP with SL. 10 meters to left are landing lights at 10 meters apart.
Landing lights colors
Yellow or Orange
Obstacle Colors
Steady Red
Prohibited Landing light colors
red, blue, green
marking HLS daytime
rifle over head, VS-17, etc.
Determine Land Heading
Long Axis of HLS
Wind speed and direction
Slope at Site
GTA Placement considerations
good 360 degree observation, not placed inside cleared area, opposite CCP. Now can have one A/C at hover
Establish/mark site
ATL supervises from 1st to last
other members begin marking
GTA and INR update ATC block
Criteria for SL to select SL locations
no less than 100m from nearest TDP of unlike or unknown A/C
80 meters from nearest TDP of like A/C
what is accomplished 10 min prior to mission time?
radios set to primary freq. personnel in proper uniform. signalman in proper location ready to guide A/C. ATC blocks of GTA's and INR's maps complete
How are troops prepared for airlift?
Briefed loading procedure, inflight procedures and ensure all personnel have proper equipment
methods to approach UH-1N/Y
45 degrees from front of A/C. downslope, in crouch, after A/C has landed
methods to approach UH-60
directly from the sides. downslope, in crouch, after A/C has landed
method to approach cargo helicopters
45 degrees from the rear. downslope, in crouch, after A/C has landed. ONLY rear right for CH-53
Loading A/C
First in, last out
no equipment under seats
seat belts fastened
muzzle up on UH-1N/Y
muzzle down on all other A/C
offloading procedures
only when instructed by aircrew
on downslope.
emergency exits by A/C
4 on UH-1
6 on UH-60
11 on CH-47
6 on MV-22B
2 on OH-59 [Show Less]