APPENDIX B
Air Assault Planning Forms
PREPARATION OF THE AIR MOVEMENT TABLE
B-1. General.
The chart illustrated in this section is a planning guide (Chart B-1).
B-2. Column 1.
The aviation unit commander will enter the unit designation (by subelement) in this column (for example, A/121CAB designates Co A, 121st Combat Aviation Brigade).
B-3. Column 2.
The ground unit's designation (by subelement) will be entered in this column in its order of commitment (for example, A/1-66 designates Co A, lst Bn, 66th Infantry).
B-4. Column 3.
Enter lift numbers, beginning with No. 1. When all available aircraft have been listed (see column 5 with 36 aircraft available), then lift No. 2 and so on.
NOTE: Elements of one or more units may be moved in the same lift.
B-5. Column 4.
a. Serials within each lift will be numbered sequentially, beginning with No. 1. On lift No. 2, the serial numbers will again start with No. 1.
b. Serials are created by subdividing lifts. This is accomplished to:
(1) Reduce span of aircraft control (no more than 6 aircraft per serial).
(2) Maintain control when multiple pickup zones, landing zones, and/or flight routes are used.
(3) Maintain control when the elements of the lift are separated.
B-6. Column 5.
Loads are numbered sequentially, one for each aircraft allocated, within a lift. The number of loads per serial is dependent upon the number of PZs, LZs, and flight routes to be used in the operation.
B-7. Column 6.
Pickup zones should be listed as primary (prim) and alternate (altn) for each serial. This provides continuity when naming PZs. If they are named blue, green, amber, and white, it facilitates their marking by pathfinders (with the colored light sets available for night operations and smoke or panels for day operations). Red is used to mark obstacles. Formations desired in a PZ should be listed under the alternate PZ code name (for example, staggered trail right [S/R], staggered trail left [S/L]). For refueling, list the FARP designation where the aircraft are to be refueled.
B-8. Column 7.
a. List loading times and/or refueling times.
b. Loading time is the time at which troops and equipment begin loading into the aircraft. Load time will be specified by the PZ control officer. When FARP numbers are listed in column 6, and "refuel" is listed in column 8, the time in column 7 indicates the time aircraft are scheduled for refueling.
B-9. Column 8.
The lift-off time is the time an aircraft departs the PZ. This time should be planned to allow aircraft to depart the PZ, assemble into their in-flight formation, and arrive at the start point at the required time. Normally, 2 or 3 minutes prior to SP time is sufficient. When refueling is entered in this block and subsequent blocks, the aircraft is scheduled to refuel.
B-10. Column 9.
List the time aircraft are scheduled to cross the SP. It normally takes 2 to 3 minutes to fly from the PZ to the SP (SP 3 to 5 km from PZ). To arrive at a realistic SP time, determine the flight time between the SP and release point. Subtract this time from the RP time, and the result is the SP time.
a. List the time aircraft are scheduled to cross the RP. To derive the time required to fly from the SP to the RP, measure the distance of the route (on a map), obtain the average ground speed from the AMC, and compute.
b. The RP time is normally 2 to 3 minutes or 3 to 5 km from the LZ, which facilitates closely coordinated fire support control.
B-12. Column 11.
List primary and alternate LZs. They will be designated for each serial. Unit SOPs dictate the method of marking LZs. The desired landing formation will be listed under the LZ code name (for example, S/R, S/L). PZ and LZ names must not conflict.
B-13. Column 12.
List the landing time for the first aircraft of each serial. All times are listed in terms of H-hour (time the first aircraft of the first serial touches down in the LZ). All times in columns 7, 8, 9, and 10 are listed with reference to H-hour, either minus (time prior to H-hour) to plus (time after H-hour).
B-14. Column 13.
Remarks will contain any information necessary to ensure that the air movement table is understood; for example, flight altitude, flight routes (prim, altn, rtn, and sequence of bump by load). (Bump 17 and 14 means that load 17 would be bumped first.)
Chart B-1. Air Movement table.
PREPARATION OF THE AIRLOADING TABLE
B- 15. General.
The chart illustrated in this section is a planning guide (Chart B-2).
B-16. Column 1.
The information in this column is provided by the squad leader to the platoon leader (after the squad leader has been given the allowable cargo load). The squad leader(s) will normally write this information on sheets of notebook paper which will be assembled by the platoon leader. This list of personnel and equipment can also serve as the aircraft manifest. Also, it may indicate a sequence of bump for the personnel on board if a pilot indicates that he cannot safely lift the planned ACL. The bump sequence will start at the bottom of the list and go upward. That means that the person listed last on the list would be bumped first. If two people had to be bumped, the last and next to last person listed would be bumped.
B-17. Column 2.
At battalion level, the PZ, altn PZ, and PZ formation will normally be determined by the battalion pickup zone control officer. At company level, this information will be taken from the battalion air movement table.
B-18. Column 3.
The PZ arrival time of the unit will be designated by the PZCO. This is the time when the troops arrive at the PZ to prepare aircraft loads adjacent to proposed touchdown points for the helicopters.
B-19. Column 4.
This information will be taken from the battalion air movement table. It is the time that troops begin loading on the aircraft.
B-20. Column 5.
This information will be taken from the battalion air movement table. It will provide the sequence of movement within the battalion and company.
B-21. Columns 6 and 7.
This information will be taken from the battalion air movement table. It will indicate which aviation unit will be lifting a particular load.
B-22. Column 8.
Each aircraft within the lift is assigned a load number. The numbers will correspond to a specific lift and serial; for example, lift No. 1, serial 2, load 7. The platoon will be given specific load numbers by the company commander, and the platoon leader will in turn assign a load number to each of his aircraft loads. This information will normally not be available at the time the squad leader prepares his manifest, but should be provided to him as soon as possible.
B-23. Column 9.
The remarks column can be used by the commander to place specific information not provided in the preceding columns. One pertinent bit of information that is essential in this column is the sequence of bump for aircraft loads; for example, serial 1, loads 4-5; serial 2, loads 9-10. This means that if two loads cannot be lifted, loads 4 and 5 will be the ones that remain in the PZ. If only one load cannot be lifted, load 4 will remain in the PZ.
Chart B-2. Airloading table.
SEQUENCE OF ACTIONS FOR AIR ASSAULT OPERATIONS
B-24. General.
The following lists provide a sequence of actions taken by the air assault task force commander, his staff, and subordinate unit commanders in planning an air assault operation. The list is not all inclusive. Certain actions may be omitted for some operations.
B-25. Air assault task force commander actions.
a. Receives brigade warning order.
b. Conducts mission analysis.
c. Receives air mission commander's initial information.
d. Gives warning order to task force.
e. Receives personnel status report from S1.
f. Receives equipment status report from S4.
g. Receives enemy situation briefing from S2.
h. Receives friendly forces information briefing from S3.
i. Continues analysis of mission, enemy, terrain (and weather), troops, and time (available).
j. Receives brigade OPORD.
k. Begins development of commander's estimate.
l. Provides guidance to staff as needed.
m. Receives staff estimates.
n. Obtains data from staff as needed.
o. Announces concept.
p. Supervises development of OPORD.
q. Receives air movement table. Approves, or modifies and approves.
r. Receives airloading tables from S3.
s. Receives copy of OPORD from S3.
t. Approves, or modifies and approves, OPORD. Returns OPORD to S3.
u. Issues, or oversees issuance of, OPORD.
B-26. Air mission commander actions.
a. Receives brigade warning order.
b. Conducts mission analysis.
c. Gives AMC initial information to AATF commander and staff.
d. Receives task force warning order.
e. Receives friendly forces information briefing from AATF S3.
f. Provides technical advice to AATF executive officer and S2 for PZ and LZ identification.
g. Coordinates with supported unit staff.
h. Provides information to aviation unit on ground unit operation.
i. Provides advice to AATF S3 on PZ selection.
j. Provides flight route information to AATF S2.
k. Assists AATF XO in PZ control plan.
l. Assists AATF S3 Air with flight route computations.
m. Coordinates PZ operations with AATF XO.
n. Provides advice to AATF S3 on LZ and flight route selection.
o. Obtains PZ and/or LZ, flight routes, and aircraft allocation from AATF S3 Air.
p. Obtains PZ control plan from AATF XO.
q. Aids AATF S4 in selecting logistic PZ(s).
r. Coordinates aircraft internal and sling equipment loads with AATF S4.
s. Obtains air movement table for AATF S3 Air.
t. Briefs aviation unit on operation.
u. Inspects PZ(s) with AATF XO.
v. Receives AATF OPORD.
B-27. Executive officer actions.
a. Receives TF warning order.
b. Receives personnel status report from S1.
c. Receives equipment status report from S4.
d. Receives enemy situation briefing from S2.
e. Receives AMC initial information.
f. Receives friendly forces information briefing from S3.
g. Determines available PZs. Obtains advice from AMC.
h. Submits PZs to S3.
i. Coordinates staff planning.
j. Obtains PZs from S3.
k. Develops PZ control plan.
l. Coordinates PZ operations with AMC and/or pathfinders.
m. Receives AATF commander's concept.
n. Obtains PZs, LZs, flight routes, and aircraft allocation from S3 Air.
o. Coordinates PZ operation with Sl. Completes bump and straggler control plan.
p. Inspects PZs with pathfinders.
q. Briefs PZ control plan to subordinate PZCOS. Provides pathfinder to each PZCO.
r. Obtains air movement table from S3 Air.
s. Obtains airloading tables from S3 Air.
t. Obtains sequence of bump from subordinate units. Annotates air movement table with sequence of bump.
u. Completes PZ control plan. Submits to S3.
v. Inspects PZs with pathfinder and/or AMC.
w. Receives OPORD.
B-28. S1 actions.
a. Receives operation notification.
b. Assembles personnel data.
c. Receives task force warning order.
d. Reports personnel status to commander and staff.
e. Receives AMC initial information.
f. Receives friendly forces information briefing from S3.
g.Begins mission analysis from personnel standpoint.
h. Begins preparation of staff appraisal (personnel).
i. Completes health service support plans.
j. Provides S3 with staff appraisal (personnel).
k. Receives AATF commander's concept.
l. Coordinates PZ operations with battalion XO. Develops straggler control plan.
m. Briefs subordinate unit personnel on straggler control plan.
n. Receives command post's general location from S3.
o. Coordinates prisoner of war (PW), civilian control plan with S2.
p. Completes PW, civilian control plan. Coordinates with S4.
q. Completes S1 portion of paragraph 4, OPORD. Gives to S4.
r. Receives airloading tables from S3 Air.
s. Coordinates with headquarters (HQ) commandant. Develops plan for command post displacement and security.
t. Coordinates command post displacement plan with S3.
u. Plans for recovery and evacuation of the dead, coordinates with S3 and S4.
v. Receives OPORD.
B-29. S2 actions.
a. Receives operation notification.
b. Requests any needed maps through S4.
c. Assembles intelligence data.
d. Requests weather forecast,
e. Distributes maps.
f. Briefs commander, staff, and subordinate unit commanders on enemy situation.
g. Obtains advice concerning LZs from AMC and pathfinders.
h. Determines available LZs.
i. Submits LZ list to S3.
j. Analyzes weather forecast.
k. Obtains advice concerning flight routes from AMC.
l. Determines available flight routes.
m. Provides available flight routes to S3 Air.
n. Recommends priority intelligence requirements and information requirements.
o. Develops intelligence collection plan.
p. Requests aviation reconnaissance and/or aerial photographs.
q. Begins preparation of staff appraisal (intelligence).
r. Provides intelligence data to commanders and staffs.
s. Processes intelligence data gathered.
t. Completes staff appraisal (intelligence).
u. Provides S3 with staff appraisal (intelligence).
v. Continues processing intelligence data; provides to commanders and staffs.
w. Recommends employment of ground surveillance radar or scout platoon to S3.
x. Recommends targets to FSCOORD.
y. Completes paragraph I (enemy forces) of OPORD and submits to S3.
z. Continues processing intelligence data; provides to commanders and staffs.
aa. Coordinates development of PW and civilian control plan with SI.
bb. Provides all intelligence data to commanders and staffs as it becomes available (aerial photographs, reconnaissance mission results).
cc. Updates intelligence map as needed.
dd. Continues processing intelligence data. Provides to commanders and staffs.
ee. Receives OPORD.
B-30. S3 actions.
a. Receives brigade warning order.
b. Assembles data on friendly elements.
c. Receives AMC initial information.
d. Receives TF warning order.
e. Receives personnel status from S1.
f. Receives equipment status from S4.
g. Receives enemy situation briefing from S2.
h. Briefs AMC initial information.
i. Briefs friendly forces disposition and location.
j. Begins development of courses of action.
k. Obtains input on pathfinder employment.
l. Receives list of available LZs from S2; available PZs from XO.
m. Receives brigade OPORD.
n. Begins preparation of staff appraisal (operations).
o. Selects PZs. Briefs XO and S3 Air on PZs selected.
p. Obtains available flight routes from S3 Air.
q. Consolidates staff information.
r. Selects LZs and flight routes.
s. Determines need for indirect fire preparations.
t. Determines need for EW support.
u. Provides staff appraisal to commander.
v. Receives commander's decision.
w. Begins preparation of OPORD.
x. Receives employment recommendations for ground surveillance radar (GSR) and scout platoon from S2.
y. Provides XO and S3 Air with PZs and aircraft allocation.
z. Selects general location for command post. Provides information to Sl.
aa. Receives S2 input to OPORD. Receives administrative-logistical (admin-log) portion of order from S4.
bb. Completes OPORD paragraph 1, 2, and 3 (to include concept and subunit paragraph).
cc. Receives air movement table from S3 Air. Obtains approval from AATF.
dd. Receives fire plan from FSCOORD.
ee. Receives EW support plan from MI support unit or liaison personnel.
ff. Obtains airloading tables from S3 Air.
gg. Receives OPORD paragraph 4 information from S4.
hh. Completes paragraph 5, OPORD.
ii. Completes operation overlay.
jj. Coordinates command post displacement with SI.
kk. Obtains PZ control plan from XO.
ll. Completes OPORD with annexes. Submits to AATF commander for approval.
mm. Receives OPORD from AATF commander.
nn. Issues OPORD, when directed by commander.
B-31. S3 Air actions.
a. Receives operation notification.
b. Receives TF warning order.
c. Receives personnel status from SI.
d. Receives equipment status from S4.
e. Receives enemy situation briefing from S2.
f. Receives AMC initial information.
g. Analyzes AMC's initial information for available assets.
h. Begins preparation of air movement table.
i. Processes air requests from S3.
j . Obtains PZs from S3; provides PZs to fire support coordinator and staff as needed.
k. Establishes liaison with TACAIR control party; coordinates preplanned TACAIR.
1. Receives available flight routes from S2.
m. Computes flight route time and distance.
n. Provides available flight route information to S3.
o. Receives AATF commander's concept.
p. Obtains LZs, flight routes, and aircraft allocation from S3. Provides data to AMC, FSCOORD, subordinate unit commanders, and staff, as needed.
q. Obtains any additional tactical air requirements from FSCOORD.
r. Initiates requests for TACAIR cap (cover) and offensive air support.
s. Obtains logistic PZs from S4.
t. Completes air movement table; submits to S3 for approval.
u. Distributes air movement table.
v. Obtains subunit airloading tables.
w. Consolidates airloading tables; provides to AATF commander, S3, XO, and Si.
x. Receives OPORD.
B-32. S4 actions.
a. Receives operation notification.
h. Obtains maps requested by S2.
c. Assembles equipment data.
d. Receives TF warning order.
e. Receives personnel status from SI.
f. Reports equipment status to commander and staff.
g. Receives enemy situation briefing from S2.
h. Receives AMC's initial information.
i. Receives friendly forces information from S3.
j. Begins mission analysis to determine requirements.
k. Receives initial supply requirements from subordinate units.
l. Begins preparation of staff appraisal (logistics).
m. Determines effects of ammunition supply rate on operation. Submits ammunition supply rate to FSCOORD.
n. Compiles materiel usage data for operation. Obtains PZs from S3 Air.
o. Compares usage data to materiel available.
p. Requests materiel as needed.
q. Coordinates with AMC on establishing FARP.
r. Provides S3 with staff appraisal (logistics).
s. Receives AATF commander's concept.
t. Begins development of support plan for operation. Obtains LZs and flight routes from S3 Air.
u. Coordinates trains operation and control with supply platoon leader. Obtains Sl input to paragraph 4, OPORD.
v. Completes S4 portion of paragraph 4, OPORD. Provides paragraph 4, OPORD, information to S3.
w. Selects logistics PZs; provides to S3 Air.
x. Plans aircraft loads (internal and sling) for mission support. Coordinates pickup points with AMC and/or pathfinder.
y. Coordinates plans for evacuation of enemy materiel with S2.
z. Receives OPORD.
B-33. FSCOORD actions.
a. Receives operation notification.
b. Begins mission analysis to determine available and needed means of fire support.
c. Plots locations and capabilities (range fans) for all indirect fire support systems supporting the TF.
d. Estimates fire support needed.
e. Obtains ammunition supply rate from TF S4 and S3 of DS FA battalion. Determines effects of ammunition supply rate on operation. Gathers information for development of fire support plan.
f. Obtains PZs from S3 Air.
g. Continues to gather information for development of fire support plan.
h. Coordinates fire support requirements with S3.
i. Provides S3 with available fire support recommendation for indirect fire preparations.
j. Obtains LZs and flight routes from S3 Air.
k. Obtains recommended targets from S2. Develops TACAIR requests to support ground tactical plan.
1. Completes fire support plan.
m. Submits fire support plan to S3 for commander's approval; on approval, distributes.
NOTE: Subunits will develop their fire plans. FSCOORD will coordinate and consolidate them into the AATF plan.
n. Receives OPORD.
B-34. Subordinate unit commanders' actions.
a. Receives operation notification.
b. Gathers personnel and equipment data.
c. Reports personnel and equipment to battalion staff. Receives maps.
d. Receives battalion warning order.
e. Issues company warning order.
f. Determines initial supply requirements.
g. Submits initial supply requirements to S4.
h. Begins preparation of airloading tables.
i. Continues mission preparation.
j. Obtains appropriate PZs, LZs, flight routes, and aircraft allocation from S3 Air.
k. Continues mission planning.
l. Obtains air movement table from S3 Air.
m. Completes airloading tables.
n. Submits airloading tables to S3 Air.
o. Receives OPORD.
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