CHAPTER 14 AIRCRAFT LOADING AND UNLOADING PROCEDURES After aircraft ordnance and ordnance accessories have been tested, they are approved for carriage and for release by a particular model aircraft. Information about ordnance and ordnance accessories can be found in the aircraft’s Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) flight/tactical manual. This manual is the basic authority for the types of ordnance and ordnance load combinations on each model aircraft. Deviation (change) from the basic authority must be approved before it can be made. The authority that approves deviations is the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). The types of aircraft ammunition and armament equipment were covered in previous chapters. In this chapter, you will learn about loading and unloading ammunition and other armament equipment onto the aircraft. AIRBORNE WEAPONS/STORES LOADING MANUAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Identify require- ments in airborne weapon/stores loading manuals as they pertain to loading and unloading aircraft ashore and afloat. The Airborne Weapons/Stores Loading Manual, known as the Loading Manual, standardizes loading procedures used throughout the Navy and Marine Corps. It improves safety and reliability in the loading of conventional weapons and airborne stores. You must follow the loading procedures in the Loading Manual. If there is a conflict between the Loading Manual and another publication, follow the procedures in the Loading Manual until NAVAIRSYSCOM solves the conflict. The procedures in the Loading Manual are followed during aircraft loading. However, the physical size of the manual makes it impractical for use on the flight line. Therefore, the actual aircraft loading procedures for a weapon/store are condensed into an airborne weapons/stores checklist. An individual checklist is provided for each type of weapon/store to be loaded. This includes release and control system checks, retarded/nonretarded bombs, fire bombs, pyrotechnics, and laser-guided bombs. Each member of the loading crew does not need a copy of a checklist during loading operations. However, crew leaders MUST use a checklist for the particular weapon/store being loaded. Checklists are not complete guides. They must be used only by experienced crew leaders that have thorough knowledge and understanding of the loading manual. Each checklist contains a required reading section that each member of the loading crew must understand before starting loading operations. To keep these loading manuals and checklists current, you should use the Airborne Weapons/Stores Publication Index, NAVAIR 01-700. This index provides activities with a guide that lists all existing changes or revisions for aircraft conventional weapons loading, release and control, airborne weapons support equipment (AWSE), chemical, and weapon assembly or disassembly checklists and manuals on hand. This publication index is updated quarterly. ASHORE, LPH, LHA, LHD, AND CV NATOPS MANUALS LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Identify the requirements in airborne weapons/stores loading manuals and the NATOPS manuals. The NATOPS manuals are issued by the authority of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in conjunction with the Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) program. The NATOPS manuals contain the best available operating instructions for most circumstances. The NATOPS is regulatory in nature; however, operational necessity may require modification of the procedures contained in it. TERMS When you are involved in weapons loading and flight deck or flight line operations, there are certain weapons terms that you must know. Some of the more common terms are contained in Appendix I of this training manual. 14-1