text: Chapter 4
  FLIGHT FORMATIONS
  4-41. Ideally, all helicopters land at the same time in a planned flight formation. The landing site
  commander includes this information in his landing instructions to the flight leader. Pathfinders lay out the
  landing site in a location where helicopters will not fly directly over aircraft on the ground. The layout of
  the site also depends on the landing space available, the number and type of obstacles, unit SOPs, and
  prearranged flight formations.
  LANDING ZONE AND OBSTACLE MARKINGS
  4-42. For daylight operations, pathfinders use only panels or some other minimal identification means to
  mark LZs (Figure 4-8 through Figure 4-11, pages 4-15 through 4-18). Smoke might also be used to
  identify an LZ and assist the pilot in determining wind conditions. However, smoke is also easily identified
  by the enemy. For daylight operations, mark the number one landing point using a single VS-17 panel,
  with the international orange side visible. Other TDPs might be marked, as coordinated. Mar obstacles
  using the cerise colored side of the panel. For night operations, they use chem-lights, lanterns, field
  expedients, or other methods to show the direction of landing and to mark individual landing points
  (Figure 4-12 and Figure 4-13, pages 4-19 and 4-20). For day and night air assault operations, they mark all
  obstacles. (Section V provides detailed information about conducting night operations.)
  4-43. At night, pathfinders can use lights of different colors (except red, which marks obstacles) to
  designate different helicopter sites or to separate flights within a larger formation. A lighted "T" or inverted
  "Y" indicates both the landing point for the lead helicopter of each flight and the direction of approach
  (Figure 4-14, page 4-21). Other lights mark touchdown points for the other helicopters in the flight. Each
  helicopter should land with its right landing gear or its right skid 5 meters left of the lights. Large cargo
  helicopters (CH-47) land 10 meters to the left of the lights.
  4-44. For security, pathfinders and the ground unit turn off, cover, or turn all lights upside down until the
  last practical moment before a helicopter arrives. Then they orient the lights in the direction from which the
  lead helicopter is approaching, and a signalman directs its landing.
  Note: Because the marking lights could be too bright for the aircrew member's NVGs, he might
  have to look under it to distinguish the colors. Also, aircrew members wear NVGs 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 be seen by pilots wearing ANVIS.
  AIR ASSAULTS
  4-45. During daylight air assault 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 air assault operations, pathfinders use red lights to mark any obstacles
  within the landing site that they cannot reduce or remove.
  4-46. In most combat situations, the need for security keeps pathfinders from using red lights to mark
  treetops on the departure end of a landing zone. However, in training or in a rear area landing site, they do
  use red lights. If they cannot mark obstacles or hazards, they must fully advise aviators of existing
  conditions by GTA radio. In any case, the pathfinder landing site leader makes sure that pathfinders mark
  the most dangerous obstacles first and, if possible, that they remove them.
  4-47. If required to do so by the supported unit, pathfinders can mark initial assembly points for troops,
  equipment, and supplies. They should choose locations that help ensure the quick, efficient assembly and
  clearing of the helicopter site. If the unit will use the assembly areas, 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