TERMINOLOGY (Talk the Talk)

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ACL – The ACL is the allowable cargo load—the amount the helicopter can carry. The ACL is not set in stone; it literally changes with the weather. High humidity and hot temperatures reduce ACL. Planners must always take the ACL into account.

ACP – An aerial checkpoint is a graphic reference point that can be identified from the air. An ACP allows the troops to track where they are on their maps.

Air Axis – An air axis is a less restrictive air movement control measure and usually is reserved for attack helicopters. The air axis is broader and movement outside of it is authorized.

Air Corridor – An air corridor is a formal and restrictive air movement control measure. The air corridor designates the specific ‘lane’ the helicopter must be in, the altitude it must maintain, and its speed. All friendly units, air and ground, know where the air corridor is and how to avoid it. Fires and other aircraft see the space as ‘reserved’.

Chalk: A chalk consists of the personnel and/or equipment designated to be moved by a single aircraft. Troops don’t simply jump on whatever bird they want to. Each man and piece of equipment is assigned an aircraft. This guarantees that men and equipment are inserted into the area of operations in a logical manner that fits the scheme of maneuver.

CSAR – CSAR is combat search and rescue. Each air assault designates a CSAR bird to track and recover downed aircraft that go down enroute or are shot down. A CSAR bird must be set aside and may include attack helicopters and utility birds.

False Insertion – A false insertion is where helicopters drop down to a hover or even touch the ground, but do not let troops out. Again, this is a deception measure designed to misdirect enemy forces in depth and fool them as to the actual location of the air assault.

False Prep – False prep is artillery fires delivered to a landing zone that will not be used. The intent is to fool the enemy as to the actual location of the actual landing.

Lift: A lift is the total number of aircraft assigned to the mission of inserting men and equipment in the vicinity of the objective. This includes the helicopters that pick up troops and/or equipment and set them down on the LZ. It does not include the scout and attack helicopters whose mission is to support the air assault through reconnaissance and fires—they fly semi-independent routes.

LUP – A link up point is where subunits meet or assemble. This can happen on the ground and in the air.

LZ – The LZ is the landing zone. This is where the troops or equipment disembark. The LZ is in the vicinity of the objective, but usually is not the objective itself.

LZ Prep – LZ prep is artillery fires delivered on a proposed landing zone. The fires are designed to kill or suppress enemy forces that can interfere with operations on the landing zone.

Pathfinder – Pathfinders are airborne scouts who recon potential landing zones and drop zones. They carry special equipment that is used to gather weather data. They survey the drop zone or landing zone and mark it. They provide ground to air terminal guidance to aircraft to include a weather update and wind speed and direction.

A note about planning ‘flights’: in air assault—it’s all about the helos hauling the troops. Air assault planners use a unique lexicon to describe a bird; a group of birds, and a series of groups of birds. This is critical to understanding how an air assault unfolds.

PZ – The pick up zone is used before the air assault. It is where the troops and equipment are loaded onto the helicopters. There may be multiple PZ’s and /or heavy PZ’s for artillery and other sling-loaded equipment.

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