What is the minimum load for Type III helicopters?

• A. 700 lb
• B. 600 lb
• C. 500 lb
• D. 800 lb

Answer: (B)

In external-load classifications, each helicopter type has a defined lower bound for the payload it’s considered capable of handling within that category. For Type III, the lower limit is set at six hundred pounds, establishing a practical minimum that keeps operations safely within the helicopter’s performance envelope while still representing a usable sling-load task.

Choosing six hundred pounds as the minimum ensures mission planning uses a meaningful load within the light-lift group, rather than a payload so small that it wouldn’t reflect the category or would be handled by a different class. The other numbers don’t fit this threshold: five hundred pounds is below the minimum, while seven hundred and eight hundred pounds exceed the minimum and would pertain to higher-capacity categories or different operational guidelines.