text: Loading and Staging
  Selecting,preparing,andcontrollingthelandingzone.
  (cid:132)
  Providingtrainedgroundcrewstoguidetheaircraftandderigtheloads.
  (cid:132)
  Coordinatingforthecontrolandreturnoftheslingloadequipment.
  (cid:132)
  Inspectingtheriggingofbackloads(slingloadequipmentreturningtopickupzone).
  (cid:132)
  SLINGLOADTEAMS
  13-37. Three personnel are used for the ground crew in external load operations on the pickup zone or
  landingzone.Theyare—
  (cid:122) Signalperson.
  (cid:122) Staticprobeperson.
  (cid:122) Hook-upperson.
  13-38. The static probe person carries an electricity probe an insulated contact rod joined by a length of
  metallic tape or electrical wire to a ground rod. All ground crew personnel wear the following
  protectiveequipment:
  (cid:122) Advancedcombathelmet.
  (cid:122) Goggles.
  (cid:122) Earplugs.
  (cid:122) Gloves.
  (cid:122) Sleevesrolleddownandbuttoned.
  (cid:122) Identificationcardandtags.
  HOOK-UPSITE
  13-39. The aircraft approaches the hook-up site, and the signal person guides it into position over the
  load. The static probe person drives the ground rod into the ground and discharges the static electricity
  fromthe aircraftbyholdingthecontactrod, which isconnected tothegroundrod,tothecargohookofthe
  aircraft.Thehook-uppersonthenattachestheapexfittingtotheaircraftcargohook.
  Note.Whenusingacargohookpendanttheuseofastaticdischargewandisnotrequired.
  RELEASESITE
  13-40. The aircraft approaches the release site, and the signal person guides it into position. The hook-up
  release team stands bybut is not activelyemployed unless the slings cannot be released fromthe aircraft.
  Thegroundcrewatthelandingzonecomprisesonesignalpersonandtworeleasepersonnel.
  GROUNDCREWEMERGENCY
  13-41. In an emergency, the ground crew moves to a predesignated rendezvous point identified during
  prior coordination with the aviation unit. Thorough preparation and rehearsal enable ground crews to react
  tochangestotheplanandunexpectedevents.