FM 57-35 Airmobile Operations - Survival Books

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMlanding zone consists of one or more helicopter landing sites orairplane landing strips, but it may have a combination of both.A drop zone may be included in the landing area. Normally, the12-man pathfinder team is capable of handling one landing zonewith the following installations: four helicopter landing sites;one airplane landing strip; or two drop zones. The pathfinder teamis usually reinforced by the supported unit with communicationand local security personnel. Such personnel should be attachedto, and under the command of, the pathfinder team leader. Theattachments increase the number of facilities which the pathfinderteam can operate.b. For each of the three basic types of operation or combinationof types, the pathfinder team usually is organized into three different parties: the release point party, a landing zone controlcenter party, and a landing site, landing strip, or drop zone party.(1) Release point (RP) party. This party is responsible formarking with visual and electronic navigational aids apredesignated point on the approach flight route fromwhich aircraft flights proceed directly to their assignedlanding site, landing strip, or drop zone within the landing zone. During daylight operations, a prominent terrain feature may be picked as the release point, in whichcase the release point party may not be necessary.(2) Landing zone control center (LZCC) party. This partycan be considered the nerve center of the landing zone.The pathfinder team leader normally is at the controlcenter, which usually is located on prominent terrainin the center of the landing area. The control centerprovides visual and electronic navigational assistance toincoming aircraft. Both ground-to-air and ground-togroundradio communication nets are operated at thecontrol center. The landing zone control center monitorsall air operations within the landing zone and controlsair deliveries, landings, and departures.(3) Landing site, landing strip, and drop zone parties. Theseparties, one for each landing site, landing strip, and dropzone within the landing zone, provide final visual guidanceand landing/drop information to individual aircraft.They supervise the parking of aircraft and assist in theassembly of the airmobile force. Personnel from thesupported unit are usually attached to these parties. Theattached personnel assist in preparing the landing siteor strip, assembling the airmobile force, and providinglocal security.86 AGO 2294B