text: Loading and Staging
  LIFTS, SERIALS, AND CHALKS
  13-15. The loading plan and pickup zone selection should aimto maintain ground unit integrity. Just as a
  squad should not be divided between chalks, a platoon should remain in one serial and a company should
  not be divided into different lifts or pickup zones. To maximize operational control, aviation assets are
  designatedintolifts,serials,andchalks.(Seefigure13-2,page13-6.)
  LIFTS
  13-16. A lift is complete each time all aircraft assigned to the mission pick up Soldiers or equipment and
  setthem downonthelanding zone.Thenextliftis complete, whenall liftaircraftplacetheirnextchalk on
  thelandingzoneandsoonwithallsubsequentlifts.
  SERIALS
  13-17. A serial is a tactical grouping of two or more aircraft under the control of a serial commander
  (aviator)and separatedfromothertacticalgroupingswithintheliftbytimeorspace.Theuseofserials may
  benecessarytomaintaineffectivecontrolofaviationassets.Forexample,dueto METT-TCconsiderations,
  it maybe difficultto control16 aircraftasa single serial. However, aliftof16 aircraftwith four serialsof
  fouraircrafteachcanbemoreeasilycontrolled.
  13-18. Multiple serials may be necessary when the capacityof available pickup zones or landing zones is
  limited. If available pickup zones or landing zones can accommodate only four aircraft in a lift of 16
  aircraft,itisbesttoorganizeintofourserialsoffouraircrafteach.
  13-19. Multiple serials are employed to take advantage of available air routes. If several acceptable air
  routes are available, the AATFC maychoose to employ serials to avoid concentrating his force along one
  airroute.Ifthecommander wantsallhisforcestolandsimultaneously ina single landing zone,hedoesso
  byhavingthe serialsconvergeatacommonreleasepointbeforelanding.With a liftof16aircraftand four
  available air routes, the ABNAFC can use four serials of four aircraft each, with each serial using a
  different air route. Each time there is a new lift, a new serial begins. For example, within lift 1, there are
  serials1through4.Foreachliftthereafter, serialsstartagainwithone.
  CHALKS
  13-20. A chalk comprises personnel and equipment designated to be moved by a specific aircraft. When
  planningthe air movement, eachaircraft within the lift is termed a chalk. For example, withina liftof 10,
  there areaircraftchalks1through10.For eachlift thereafter,there are chalks 1through10.Each aircraft is
  accountedforwithineachlift.
  13-21. Chalks must be designated within serials just as theyare within lifts. Counting within the serials is
  continuousupto thetotalnumber ofaircraft inthelift.For example,ina liftof16aircraft inlift 1,serial1,
  there are chalks 1 through 4. In lift 1, serial 2, there are chalks 5 through 8. In lift 1, serial 3, there are
  chalks9through12.Finally,inlift1,serial4,therearechalks13through16.