Cargo hook (helicopter)


A cargo hook is a device suspended below a helicopter and allows the transport of external loads during flight. Common terms for this operation include slingwork, underslung loads, external loadwork, and external load operations.

Hook types

Primary hooks

Primary, or "belly", hooks are designed to mount directly to the airframe belly, i.e. underside, of a helicopter. Because they are attached to the fuselage, or "skin," of the aircraft, belly hooks are regulated by the various worldwide aviation regulatory agencies. In the United States, belly hooks are governed under Federal Aviation Administration FAR Part 133. Belly hooks are designed, manufactured, and approved for use on specific aircraft models. Belly hooks that have been certified by the FAA receive a Supplemental Type Certificate that describes the aircraft models that are authorized to use the hook for external load operations. For example, a belly hook approved for use by the FAA on a Eurocopter AS350 could not be used on a Bell 407 helicopter unless covered by the STC.
For small to mid-size utility helicopters performing external load work, belly hooks are typically mounted to the fuselage using either a sling or a suspension configuration. The sling mount uses a single attachment point, whereas a suspension system uses four attachment points. Since suspension systems transfer the weight of the cargo load across a larger swath of the aircraft, they can carry heavier loads than sling mounts.

Remote hooks

Remote hooks are suspended beneath the belly hook by a long line, swivel, or other device. Because they are not attached directly to the airframe, they do not require aircraft-specific certification and can be used on a wide variety of helicopter models.

Technical details

Parts of a cargo hook

Key components of a cargo hook include the load beam, the keeper, and the attach point. The load beam is the solid piece of metal at the bottom of a cargo hook that supports the load. Usually it has a curved, narrow end which is used to load a ring, rope, or net onto the hook. The keeper is the locking, spring-operated mechanism that keeps the load from sliding off the load beam during transport. The attach point attaches the hook to the belly of the helicopter, swing system, or longline.

Helicopters & load capacities

The following table includes a list of helicopter models that are designed to carry underslung loads. Cargo capacities provided reflect the airframe manufacturer's specifications; when put into practice the actual maximum load capacities may be less, depending on the rating of the cargo hook equipment. For example, if a helicopter model is rated by the manufacturer as having a maximum cargo sling load capacity of 4,000 LB, but the cargo hook equipment is only rated for 3,000 LB, then the pilot can only carry loads weighing 3,000 LB or less.
ManufacturerModelSlingload Cargo Capacity
Sud AviationAlouette II - SE 3130, SA 3132,500
Sud AviationAlouette III - SA 316-3191,650
Aerospatiale/EurocopterAS 350/3552,557 mounted directly to airframe
3,086 on swing suspension
Aerospatiale/WestlandSA 330 Puma7,055
AgustaA1091,500
Bell204/UH-14,000
Bell205/UH-1H4,000
Bell206 Jet Ranger/OH-581,500
Bell206 Long Ranger2,000
Bell2124,000
Bell4124,000
Bell-BoeingV-22 Osprey15,000
Boeing/VertolCH-4728,000
BristolBristol Belvedere5250
EurocopterEC145
Hindustan Aeronautics LtdDHRUVS ALH3,300
Kaman AircraftK-MAX6,855
KamovKA-32
MD Helicopters369D/E, 500N2,000
MILMI-617,650
LeonardoAW139
MILMi-8/MI-17 HIP C-K8,818
MILMI-10/MI-10K Harke36,600
MILMil Mi-2644,092
MILMil Mi-3815,432
MILMil Mi-171A211,023
SikorskyS-64E/F Sky Crane20,000
SikorskyS-70/UH-60 Black Hawk/SH-60 Seahawk9,000
SikorskyS-76
KamovKa-2262,425
KamovKa-32A11BC11,023
KamovKa-625,511

Common usage

Utility helicopter operators perform a wide variety of external load work that varies region to region and season to season. Some of the most common external load operations include: