Loading, Tiedown, and Offloading

TM 55-1520-238-S

25.2 Fire Protection. Fire fighting equipment shall

22.7 Loading, Tiedown, and Offloading. Under

be onsite and ready for use.

direction of the loadmaster, the loading team will load,

tiedown, and offload helicopters, and will perform the

25.3 Electrical Grounding. A good electrical

following related functions:

ground will be available.

a. Furnish necessary construction materials,

25.4 Area Clearance. Area of operations will be

and install required shoring, auxiliary loading ramps,

cleared of all unneeded equipment and vehicles to allow

and ramp extensions.

free movement of helicopters; cleared area must

accommodate a helicopter turning a radius of at least 40

b. Furnish, rig, and operate all loading and

feet (80foot turning circle).

offloading aids which are not part of the cargo aircraft.

NOTE

c. Furnish and operate auxiliary lighting,

when required for lowlight or night operations.

A towbar (item 15, table 21 and table

22) or equivalent, will be used for towing

22.8 Coordination. The Army activity responsible

and maneuver of helicopters on the

for preparing and loading helicopters will coordinate its

ground.

operations with the Military Airlift Command (MAC) to

obtain helicopter loadready conditions as follows:

26 HELICOPTER PREPARATION FOR CARGO

AIRCRAFT SHIPMENT.

a. Concerned personnel will be informed of

quantity and type of helicopters to be shipped and type

Preparation of the AH-64A helicopter consists of prelim-

of cargo aircraft to be used.

inary safety procedures (grounding, explosives deac-

tivation, fuel level adjustment, etc.); helicopter disas-

b. Required handling and stowage equip-

sembly (removal, folding, or stowage of certain

ment, shoring and cushioning material will be obtained

helicopter components) to obtain required shipment

and made ready for immediate use.

preloading condition, and cleaning, preservation, pack-

c. Helicopter preparation and extent of parts

aging, and marking of helicopters and components.

removal (helicopter disassembly) will be planned in ad-

vance.

CAUTION

d. Helicopters being shipped will be ready to

load on arrival of the cargo aircraft.

Each removed component will be

23 EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS.

colorcoded, tagged or otherwise

identified to indicate the helicopter

Equipment items required for helicopter preparation and

from which it was removed, and ex-

cargo aircraft shipment are listed and described in

act installed position. Rotor blades

tables 21 (C-5 and C-17 shipment) and 22 (C-141B

for each helicopter must be kept as

shipment). Special tools and equipment are identified in

sets, matchmarked with mating

Appendix E.

hub components, to maintain blade

NOTE

balance and calibration of the deic-

Equipment item numbers listed in tables

ing system. Improper fit, imbalance,

21 and 22 are referenced elsewhere in

or component damage may result

Chapter 2 for identification of required

from parts mismatch or incorrect as-

equipment. For all other purposes, item

sembly.

Unless otherwise directed, mount-

(reference) numbers will be disregarded,

and NSN or part number and CAGE will be

ing hardware and pivot pins will be

used for equipment identification.

reinstalled after component remov-

al, to prevent loss or damage.

24 CONSUMABLE MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS.

Smaller, hardtohandle hardware

Refer to Appendix D for identification of consumable

items should be bagged and at-

materials and bulk items required during helicopter

tached to related component, to pre-

preparation and shipment procedures. Shoring material

vent loss or damage.

requirements are shown in the loading instructions for

NOTE

each specific load.

Cleaning preservation and packaging

25 FACILITY REQUIREMENTS.

procedures will be conducted after perfor-

25.1 FoulWeather Shelter. A hangar or other en-

mance of required disassembly. Marking

closure will be available for operations in poor weather.

will be conducted before loading.

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