Chapter 4. AIR TRANSPORTABILITY

25 August 1988

TM 55-2320-280-14

CHAPTER 4

AIR TRANSPORTABILITY

Section I. GENERAL

4-1. Scope

This chapter provides air transportability guidance for movement of the HMMWVs. It covers technical and

physical characteristics of HMMWVs, as well as safety considerations. It also prescribes the materials required

to prepare the vehicles and to load them into and unload them from US Air Force aircraft. For example, it pro-

vides sample tiedown diagrams and data tables for loading these vehicles into C-130, C-141, and C-5A aircraft.

4-2. Maximum Utilization of Aircraft

Cargo may be carried in the cargo compartment of these vehicles provided the gross vehicle weight rating is

not exceeded. Such cargo must be securely restrained in the vehicle cargo compartment by attaching the

cargo to the vehicle or to the aircraft floor. Also, the cargo must meet the same restraint criteria as the vehicle.

The restraint criteria for the vehicle is as follows: aft 1.5g, forward 3g, lateral 1.5g, and vertical 2g. The load

must not exceed the maximum rated load capacity for these vehicles. The weight of the vehicle and its cargo

must be accurate. The vehicle and its cargo are considered as one package, and the gross weight is used to

determine the number of tiedowns needed to meet the restraint criteria.

4-3. Safety

In addition to the safety precautions contained in chapter 3, the following should be noted:

a. The activity offering the vehicles for air transport will notify the aircraft commander or his/her designated

representative if ammunition or explosives are to be transported within the vehicles.

b. In accordance with TM 38-250/AFR 71-4, the fuel level may be three-quarters full when loaded on the

cargo floor or one-half full when loaded on the aircraft ramp during contingencies. The fuel level must be no

more than one-quarter full during routine airlift.

c. Each vehicle must be checked carefully to ensure that all loose items are properly secured in accord-

ance with restraint criteria.

NOTE

In air loading, the center of gravity of each vehicle must be determined and, where the weight

and/or measurement is critical, each vehicle should be weighed and measured by Army per-

sonnel prior to air loading.

4-4. Responsibility

The loadmaster will ensure that the loaded equipment is secured in accordance with restraint criteria outlined in

TO 1C XXX-9.

Section II. TRANSPORT BY US AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT

4-5. Aircraft Capabilities

All HMMWVs can be transported in C-130, C-141, and C-5A aircraft. When the M1037 and M1042 shelter car-

riers, with the S-250 shelter mounted, are transported in C-130 and C-141 aircraft, the snubbing device (fig.

4-1) must be used to fully compress the rear suspension of these vehicles. If the snubbing device is not avail-

able, the shelter will be removed and palletized on 463L pallets.

4-1