A release team is composed of which three personnel?

• A. Signalman; Hookup person; Receiving team
• B. Signalman; Static wand person; Hookup person
• C. Static wand person; Hookup person; Ground Crew
• D. Hookup person; Receiving team; Aviation

Answer: (B)

In sling-load operations, the release team is a three-person group that handles the safe detachment of the load from the helicopter. The hookup person is the one who physically attaches and secures the load to the aircraft’s hook, making sure the rigging is correct and secure before any movement. The signalman acts as the pilot’s eyes on the ground, using standard hand signals to control timing, positioning, and when to release, ensuring precise communication and safe coordination with the aircraft. The static wand person carries a wand to check for hazardous static electricity or arcing risks in the rigging and load, helping prevent sparks or ground faults during the hookup and release. Together, these roles cover the essential safety and coordination tasks needed to release a load safely. The other roles listed belong to different teams or tasks during flight operations and aren’t part of the dedicated release team.