text: Insertion and Extraction Methods
  Emergencies after Roping Starts
  5-72. In case of an emergency, personnel follow emergency procedures:
  Unsafe Drift or Premature Liftoff
  • FRIES master, assistant FRIES masters, safety, or roper stops the stick.
  • Ropers stop descent and lock in.
  • FRIES master or crewman informs the pilot in command and guides him in, moving the aircraft
  back on target.
  • Unit continues operations.
  Rope Hung or Snagged
  • Safety ensures ropers are off the rope and clear.
  • Aircraft descends or lands, as needed.
  • Ground personnel free the rope.
  • Unit resumes the operation.
  Premature or Unintentional Deployment of the Fast Rope
  • Notifies the pilot in command.
  • Follows the aircrew's instructions.
  Lost Communications
  5-73. During all training and operations, the pilot in command or the crewmembers and the FRIES
  master must use the intercom. If the intercom fails, they use hand-and-arm signals until they can clear the
  rope and restore the intercom:
  Stop Stick--A clenched fist touching the chest.
  Ropes--Open palm toward the door in a horizontal motion.
  Aircraft Movement--An open palm moving and facing in the direction required.
  Stop Aircraft Movement--A clenched fist.
  DANGER
  HOLD ONTO THE SAFETY LINE DURING THE CRITICAL TIME
  BETWEEN THE ONE-MINUTE WARNING AND BEFORE "ROPERS
  AWAY." WHEN THE DOORS ARE OPEN, ANY SUDDEN
  AIRCRAFT MOVEMENT COULD THROW YOU OUT OF THE
  AIRCRAFT.
  DUTIES OF FAST-ROPE MASTER
  • Brief members of his team and aircrew.
  • Inspect team members to ensure that their equipment is configured correctly. For example,
  ensure that each member has his work gloves and has tied down all equipment on his person.
  • Backbrief, and then inspect aircraft rigging.
  • Install the FRIES rope in the aircraft and conduct safety checks.