Plan and monitor the loading of helicopters

This standard is about planning and monitoring the loading of helicopters. This involves calculating an optimal load of items such as baggage, cargo and mail, taking into account the helicopters capacity and the flight, and assessing the way in which a helicopter can be loaded to ensure minimum handling, restraint and cost. This also involves ensuring baggage, cargo and mail is loaded onto the helicopter using the correct loading procedures. You should be able to communicate necessary information as required.

This standard is for those working in airports/airfields carrying out supervisory or team leading roles working with helicopters.

When you have completed this standard, you will be able to demonstrate your knowledge of and ability to: 

• Plan and monitor the loading of helicopters

1. Plan loads and specify load distribution for the helicopter and flights in line with organisational procedures and relevant legal requirements
2. Communicate the specified load, weight and distribution to colleagues
3. Confirm your organisation's procedures for helicopter loading and achieve minimum handling, restraint and cost without compromising safety
4. Confirm your organisation’s specified loading procedures for special cargo and restricted articles meet relevant legal requirements
5. Advise customers and colleagues of your organisation's specified loading procedures e.g. core guideline from Oil and Gas UK
6. Monitor and approve helicopter loads and loading for flights
7. Check that load, loading procedures and load restraint methods conform with specifications for the helicopter and flight
8. Resolve discrepancies in the helicopter load, loading procedures and load restraint methods according to organisational procedures
9. Communicate and record alterations to the load specification in line with your organisation's procedures
10. Take the required action when shortfalls, irregularities or malpractice are observed during loading according to your organisation's procedures
11. Complete and process aircraft loading documentation, including load sheets and balance charts in line with organisational procedures

1. Your organisation’s procedures for planning loads and specifying load distribution for the helicopter and flights
2. The helicopters weight limitations
3. The effects of unbalanced loading
4. The destination and standard operational codes and abbreviations in use in the airport/airfield to use when communicating information on loads
5. The designators and locations of aircraft compartments
6. The reference sources for load planning
7. The sequence of en route stations
8. The relevant legal requirements in relation to helicopter load and balance
9. How to use actual weights for passengers and baggage
10. How to load baggage, cargo and mail in hold areas and cabin areas
11. Your organisation’s procedures for loading baggage, cargo and mail
12. Your organisation’s procedures for loading bulk and / or containers
13. The types of dangerous goods, restricted articles and special loads
14. Your organisation’s procedures for packing and loading dangerous goods, restricted articles and special loads
15. The types of equipment used for loading different items
16. The methods for restraining loads
17. How to monitor and approve helicopter loads and loading for flights
18. The importance of confirming your organisation's procedures for helicopter loading achieve minimum handling, restraint and cost without compromising safety
19. Your organisation’s procedures for resolving load discrepancies
20. How to communicate and record alterations to load specification
21. The actions to take when shortfalls, irregularities or malpractice are observed during loading
22. Your organisation’s procedures for completing and processing helicopter loading documentation

Aircraft weight limitations include:

a)    Maximum take-off weight

b)    Maximum landing weight

c)    Maximum zero fuel weight

d)    Aircraft prepared for service weight

e)    Wet operating weight

f)    Traffic load

Organisational loading procedures include:

a)    Ground transportation

b)    Loading

c)    Packing

d)    Restraint

e)    Unloading