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TM 55-2410-237-14
CHAPTER 4
AIR TRANSPORTABILITY GUIDANCE
4-1. Scope
This chapter provides air transportability guidance
for moving the Cater-pillar D7 crawler tractors. It
covers significant safety considerations and pre-
scribes the materials required to prepare, load, and
tie down the tractor on, or unload the tractor from,
US Air Force aircraft.
4-2. Maximum Utilization of Aircraft
The loads described in this section are not maximum
aircraft loads. General guidance on total cargoloads
and operating ranges is in TM 38–236/AFP 71–8.
Additional cargo and/or personnel within allowable
load limits and restrictions prescribed by pertinent
safety regulations can be transported.
4-3. Applicability
The D7 tractors are transportable in C-130, C-141,
and C–5 aircraft. Procedures in this manual and those
prescribed in TO 1C–130A–9, TO 1C-141A–9, and TO
1C–5A–9 apply.
4-4. Safety
In addition to the safety precautions in chapter 3,
note the following instructions:
a. The activity offering the equipment for air
transport must notify the aircraft commander, or
designated representative, when hazardous materials
are to be transported. It must also state whether
these materials have been prepared for shipment
according to TM 38-250/AFR 71-4.
b. Ensure the tractor fuel tank is no more than
one-half full.
c. Tie down the tractor according to procedures in
TO 1C-XXX-9.
d. Check each tractor carefully to ensure that all
loose items are properly stowed and secured.
e. Transport the tractor aboard C–130 and C–141
aircraft in the reduced configuration (remove blade,
ripper or winch, ROPS, and exhaust stack).
f. Use rolling and parking shoring aboard all air-
craft.
g. Park the tractor between fuselage stations 337
and 682 on C–130 aircraft.
h. Straight-in load the tractor aboard C–141 air-
craft.
i. Adequately restrain the tractor and all accom-
panying loads. The tractor restraint system must
withstand loadings of 3g forward, 2g vertically up,
4.5g vertically clown, and 1.5g aft and lateral.
WARNING
Fire extinguishers must be readily available
during all loading and unloading operations.
WARNING
Proper ventilation must be provided during
loading and unloading operations. Prolonged
exposure to carbon monoxide fumes could be
fatal.
WARNING
On C–130 aircraft, the width of the tractor
may not allow for a proper safety aisle for
passengers, in which case passengers would
be limited to mission essential personnel
only.
CAUTION
The tractor must not exceed 3 mph inside
the aircraft or on the loading ramp.
CAUTION
The clearance between the dual rails on the
C–130 is critical and will require careful
maneuvering or building the shoring above
the rails.
4-5. Preparation of the Vehicle
a. Inspect the D7 tractor for leaks, damage, and
operation; repair as required.
b. Fabricate and place shoring.
c. Reduce crawler (required for C-130 and C–141
transport) by removing blade, ripper or winch,
ROPS, and exhaust stack.
d. Palletize removed items.
NOTE
The tractor must be loaded onto a semi-
trailer or similar transporter for straight-in
loading aboard C–141 aircraft.
NOTE
The tractor ripper shanks should be turned
upward when transporting the operational
tractor aboard C–5 aircraft.
4-6. Transport by US Air Force
Aircraft
This tractor is tied down according to the applicable
TO 1C–XXX–9, section IV. Figure 4–1 shows the
suggested tiedown pattern for the D7G in the C–130
aircraft. The suggested tiedown pattern for the D7E
and F tractors is similar to the D7G except that the
transporter should use the additional center tiedown
provisions located on the track roller frames in
between the other two multipurpose provisions. This
additional tiedown is required to adequately restrain
the D7E and F tractors for air transport because the
D7E and F tractors are heavier than the D7G. For
C–141 and C–5 transport, fewer tiedown devices are
4-1
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