Helicopter hoisting operations

A crane – assembly flight is a mission to displace a cargo, set it in a fixed location, deliver a load to the assembly crew, perform an on-site assembly or disassembly or combination of such tasks using devices to suspend the cargo outside the aircraft.

Flight classification:

a) by the type of the task:
Class I – lifting – transfer of a cargo from one point to another, no precise setting in a given location demanded.
Class II – assembly - transfer of a cargo from one point to another with precise setting in a given location.
Class III – long time assembly - transfer of a cargo from one point to another with precise setting in a given location during long time hover (above 5 minutes). The operations include also tasks performed by an operator seated on a platform outside a helicopter to accomplish certain assembly or repair tasks.

b) by altitude above ground level (AGL):
Class N – low – transfer up to 50 m AGL
Class S – medium – transfer between 51 and 100 m AGL
Class W – high –transfer above 100 m AGL

c) by weight of the cargo lifted
Class L – weight of the suspended element up to 75% of the helicopter lifting capacity
Class C - weight of the suspended element above 75% of the helicopter lifting capacity, no operational limits exceeded.