text: Chapter 11
  "Y" indicates both the landing point for the lead helicopter of each flight and the direction of approach.
  Otherlightsmark touchdownpoints fortheotherhelicopters intheflight.Eachhelicopter shouldland with
  its right landing gear or its right skid 5 meters left of the lights. Large cargo helicopters (CH-47) land 10
  meterstotheleftofthelights.(RefertoFM 3-21.38formoreinformationonnightlandingformations.)
  11-27. Forsecurity,pathfindersand the ground unitturnoff,cover, orturnalllightsupsidedown untilthe
  lastpracticalmomentbefore a helicopterarrives.Thentheyorientthelightsinthedirectionfromwhichthe
  leadhelicopterisapproaching,and a signalmandirectsitslanding.
  Note: Because the marking lights could be too bright for the aircrew member's night vision
  goggles, crew members might have to look under the goggles to distinguish the colors. Also,
  aircrew members wear night vision goggles with filtered lenses. These filters do not allow the
  aircrews to see blue or green chem-lights. Colors such as yellow, orange, red, and infrared can
  beseenbypilotswearingANVIS.
  11-28. During daylight landing operations, pathfinders use red-colored panels or other red, easily-
  identifiable means to mark any hard-to-detect, impossible-to-remove obstacles such as wires, holes,
  stumps, and rocks. During nighttime, pathfinders use red lights to mark any obstacles within the landing
  sitethattheycannotreduceorremove.
  11-29. In most combat situations, the need for security keeps pathfinders from using red lights to mark
  treetopsonthedepartureendof a landingzone. However,intrainingor in a reararea landingsite, theydo
  use red lights. If they cannot mark obstacles or hazards, they must fully advise aviators of existing
  conditionsbyground toairradio.Inanycase, the pathfinderlanding siteleadermakessure thatpathfinders
  markthemostdangerousobstaclesfirstand,ifpossible,thattheyremovethem.
  11-30. Pathfinders have a limited capability to secure a landing site. If they precede the initial assault
  elements into a landing site, Soldiers from the supported ground unit can go with them for security. If
  required to do so by the supported unit, pathfinders can mark initial assembly points for soldiers,
  equipment, and supplies. They should choose locations that help ensure the quick, efficient assembly and
  clearing of the helicopter landing site. If the unit uses assemblyareas, the ground unit commander selects
  their locations. If needed, supported ground unit Soldiers go with the pathfinders to reconnoiter and mark
  the unit assembly areas, set up assembly aids, act as guides, and help with landing and unloading
  operations.Havingthishelpensuresthat thepathfinderscanrapidlyclearsoldiers,supplies,andequipment
  fromthelandingpoints.
  11-31. A landing zone formation may not have standardized distances between aircraft due to the size or
  terrainonthelanding zone.Thegoal inlandingaircraftsuccessfullyis toselect a safe landingareaasclose
  to cover and concealment as possible to reduce Soldier exposure. If possible, the aircraft formation on the
  pickup zone is the same as the landing zone. This provides Soldiers and leaders a preview of the landing
  zonelandingformationandgivesthemanideaoftheirlocationuponlandinginrelationtootherelements.
  11-32. The lead elements lifted into the landing zone are responsible for clearing the landing zone to
  support follow-on lifts. This can be accomplished using a number of methods, which are entirely METT-
  TC dependent. The most common method for clearing the landing zone is to assign assault objectives,
  which requires subordinate units to move through an assigned area to clear enemy forces before reaching
  theirfinalobjective.
  EXITING THE AIRCRAFT
  11-33. The two methods for exiting a UH-60 aircraft are the one-side off-load and the two-side off-load.
  Soldiers exiting a CH-47 do so fromthe rear ramp. In each method, Soldiers must be careful to avoid the
  main and tail rotors of the aircraft they are exiting and the rotors of other aircraft in their serial. The
  separation between serials and the number of serials that can fit into the landing zone at one time are
  criticalplanningconsiderationswhendeterminingtheaircraftexitingmethod.
  11-34. As part of an air assault, the mission may require the application of the fast-rope insertion and
  extraction system (FRIES) for small units to infiltrate or insert into a confined area where a helicopter is
  unable to land as an alternative method for exiting an aircraft. FRIES is the fastest method of deploying