text: Landing Plan
  (cid:122) Availability of fire support assets. The ground commander coordinates with the artillery unit to
  arrange the preparation of units that can fire. In some cases, where an air assault is executed
  acrossextendeddistances,preparation firesbycloseair supportor attackhelicoptersmaybe the
  onlyviablealternative.
  (cid:122) Objective area fires. A known or suspected enemy force in the landing area, regardless of size,
  warrantspreparationfires.
  (cid:122) Effects of ordnance on the landing zone. Some ordnances used in preparation fires (such as
  artillery, bombs, or infrared illumination) may be undesirable since they can cause craters,
  downedtrees,fires,andlandingzoneobscuration.
  (cid:122) Scheduling fires. Fires are scheduled to be lifted or shifted to coincide with the arrival times of
  aircraftformations.
  (cid:122) Collateral damage. The unintentional or incidental injury or damage to persons or objects that
  would not be lawful military targets in the circumstances ruling at the time. Such damage is
  lawfulsolongasitisnotexcessiveinlightoftheoverallmilitaryadvantageanticipatedfromthe
  attack.(RefertoJP3-60formoreinformation.)
  (cid:122) Positivecontrolmeasures. Controlmeasuresmustbeestablishedforliftingorshiftingfires.
  (cid:122) Additionalconsiderationsinclude:
  Thegroundcommanderclearsallground,air,andindirectfiresinsidetheairheadline.
  (cid:132)
  Door gunners in assault aircraft fire only at the base of the tree line to avoid fratricide of
  (cid:132)
  overwatchinggunships.
  As long as the air assault continues, attack aviation works for the AATFC. Attack
  (cid:132)
  reconnaissance aviationisplaced indirectsupport of the ground commander for air assault
  security and close combat attack within the objective area. The ground commander passes
  controlofattackaviationaircraftto subordinatecommandersfor close combat attack. Once
  the threatiseliminated, attack aircraft are passed backto the ground commander‘s control.
  Onlya ground commander can clear Apache or Kiowa fires into the tree line assaulted by
  friendlyforces.(Refertochapter6ofthispublicationformoreinformation.)
  Indirectfiresonthetreeline beingassaultedbyfriendlyforcesarealwaystreatedas danger
  (cid:132)
  close. (In other words, in a right door exit, a fire mission into the right tree line would be
  dangerclose.)
  Know the locations of all friendly forces in the area, to include reconnaissance and long-
  (cid:132)
  rangesurveillanceunits,pathfinders,andspecialoperationsforces.
  SECTION V – LANDING SITE OPERATIONS
  11-24. Aircraft formations on the landing zone should facilitate a rapid exit from the aircraft, an orderly
  departure off the landing zone, and an organized deployment for the assault. The number and type of
  aircraftand the configuration and size ofthe landingzone maydictate the formation. (See chapter12 for a
  discussion of standard flight and landing formations.) If contact is expected in the landing zone, elements
  mustlandreadytofightandmaneuverinalldirections.
  LANDING ZONE AND OBSTACLE MARKINGS
  11-25. For daylight operations, pathfinders use panels or some other minimal identification means to
  marklandingzones.Smokemightalsobeusedtoidentifyalandingzoneandassist thepilotindetermining
  wind conditions. However, smoke isalso easilyidentified bythe enemy. For daylightoperations, markthe
  number one landing point using a single VS-17 panel, with the international orange side visible. Other
  touchdown points might be marked, as coordinated. Mark obstacles using the cerise colored side of the
  panel. For night operations, use chem-lights, lanterns, field expedients, or other methods to show the
  direction of landing and to mark individual landing points. For day and night air assault operations, mark
  allobstacles.(RefertoFM3-21.38formoreinformationondaylightlandingformations.)
  11-26. At night, pathfinders can use lights of different colors (except red, which marks obstacles) to
  designatedifferenthelicoptersitesortoseparateflights withinalargerformation.Alighted"T"orinverted