text: FM 7-100.1________________________________________________________________________________
  missions suited to heliborne operations. Heliborne units can also lay and clear
  mines in the enemy rear.
  PLANNING AND PREPARATION
  13-14. Planning considerations for airborne and heliborne operations include
  the mission, troops and support available, terrain, the depth of the operation,
  flight routes, air superiority, DZs or LZs, surprise, security, and the enemy
  situation. Deception operations are planned to mislead the enemy as to the
  true purpose and location of air activity. Given routine readiness conditions,
  the time required to prepare transport aviation and to plan a battalion-size
  or larger airborne mission is, as a minimum, approximately 24 hours. This
  planning time includes
  • Notification of alert and moving out: 2 hours.
  • Preparation of aviation units: 18 hours.
  • Embarking troops and equipment and final aircraft preparation: 4 hours.
  When exercising a preplanned contingency or starting from an increased
  readiness condition, the preparation time is reduced by 5 to 8 hours.
  13-15. The time required to plan for a battalion-size heliborne assault is similar.
  Troop embarkation times can be reduced if few or no vehicles accompany the
  force. The force selected to conduct a heliborne assault may require training,
  and this adds at least one day to the preparation time. To avoid this delay, the
  OPFOR trains selected infantry battalions for heliborne employment.
  13-16. Preparation for an airborne or heliborne landing includes the following:
  • Determining the composition, strength, and capabilities of the enemy
  forces in the area of the DZ or LZ (or those near enough to interfere
  with the landing operations and subsequent attack of the objective).
  • Determining the nature of the terrain and condition of the road network.
  • Locating natural and manmade obstacles that would interfere with air
  drop of troops and equipment.
  • Selecting suitable primary and alternate DZ or LZs.
  13-17. Aerial reconnaissance, clandestine agents, sympathizers, maps, signals
  reconnaissance, long-range patrols, or air-dropped reconnaissance teams all
  provide intelligence information for an airborne operation. Reconnaissance of
  the DZ or LZ, by both air assets and SPF, continues throughout the planning
  and execution stages of the operation. If enemy troops are located in the area,
  they are attacked and neutralized by aviation, artillery, or SPF. Reconnais-
  sance takes place when the airborne or heliborne operation is first conceived,
  when troops embark, and while aircraft are en route to the DZ or LZ. Enemy
  armor, artillery, and air threats are of major concern. Reconnaissance activi-
  ties also occur outside the projected objective area, as a deception measure.
  13-18. Airborne and heliborne operations require extensive coordination between
  the committed landing force and the controlling headquarters, supporting avia-
  tion, and ground maneuver forces. The following principles contribute to success:
  • Surprise should be used to advantage. Extensive security measures are
  necessary in all phases of the operation to prevent early detection and