Airlift Planners Course

Course Intro and Overview

Airlift is essential when the rapid response to a threat halfway around the world may govern the outcome of a confrontation (ref AFI 10-221, p. 7).

The full Airlift Planners Course is designed to train supervisory personnel in the planning and execution of airlift operations. To understand the fundamentals of planning, the course examines four key elements of airlift operations (p. 7):

• AMC Orientation includes information about the command structure, capabilities, affiliation training program, airlift movements, and airlift aircraft (p. 7). The TALCE is a small composite force of airlift professionals that are familiar with the unit's requirements to move by air (p. 8).

• Airlift Preparation includes general and specific supported force responsibilities, marshalling, joint inspection, palletization, materials handling equipment (MHE), shoring requirements, and weighing and marking cargo (p. 7).

• Principles of Load Planning consists of aircraft weight and balance, load planning principles, aircraft characteristics, and manifesting (p. 7)

• Safety recognizes that the flightline is a dangerous area of operation, and stresses the balance between caution and mission accomplishment. The basic doctrine on safety is to expose the minimum number of personnel to the minimum number of hazards for the minimum amount of time (p. 84).