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U.S. Department of the Interior

National Park Service

Standard Helicopter Short-Haul Rigging Systems

January 2009

National Park Service

3833 S. Development Avenue

Boise, ID 83705-5354
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CONTENTS

Introduction.................................................................3

Denali National Park and Preserve-SA315B...........................4

Grand Canyon National Park-MD900..................................6

Grand Teton National Park-AS350B3 .................................7

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park-MD500 ..............................8

North Cascades National Park-MD500................................10

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks-AS350B2..............13

Yellowstone National Park-SA315B..................................14

Yosemite National Park-Bell 205......................................17
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Introduction

This document contains examples of existing short-haul rigging 

systems employed by National Park Service units with approved 

helicopter short-haul program. 

Helicopter short-haul programs must be approved by the agency. New 

program requests shall be forwarded to, and approved by, agency 

Directors or their delegates and then forwarded to the Director, DOI 

AM. Requests shall include a copy of agency approval and the 

proposed local short-haul operations plan, describing when and how 

short-haul will be used. The operations plan must include a GO/NOGO process for risk management purposes. Plans must comply with 

agency and departmental policies and guidelines.
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Denali National Park

Short-Haul Anchor attachment point

Pilot release location

Bracket / Hard Point mounting location
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Short-haul Rope attached to the Three Ring Release

 Primary load attachment:

God ring (1/2 “steel O–ring 10,000 lbf)

 to short-haul rope

Secondary load attachment:

Three Ring Release / Locking steel 

carabiner to short-haul rope
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MD-900 Helicopter Short-Haul Anchor Point

Two nylon yoke bands rigged in 

parallel serve as the short-haul 

anchor system on the MD-900. 

The MD-900 composite airframe 

requires the use of a removable 

harness system when employing 

an external cargo hook. Due to 

the potential for entanglement, the 

short-haul anchor system does 

not rely on the presence of a 

cargo hook as a feature or design 

component.

Yoke bands are rigged 

around the belly of the 

aircraft through the aft 

cabin doorway behind 

the flight step. The quick 

release mechanism 

incorporated into the 

yoke band design is a 

three-ring release, which 

is commonly used within 

the parachuting industry. 

Releases are function 

tested and positioned 

within reach of the shorthaul spotter, who is 

seated in the aft cabin. 

The short-haul line is attached to the forward of 

the two yoke bands with two spring-loaded 

locking carabiners. A steel locking oval link 

provides a connection to the rear yoke band as a 

backup and redundant anchor point, in the event 

the primary yoke band were to experience failure.
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Three-Ring release cable running 

through cable guides and into aircraft 

cabin.

Cable release is attached to aftfacing panel behind collective 

control and is accessible to pilot 

and spotter.

Omega-Pacific, steel, double twist-lock, 

captive eye carabiner.

2008 GRTE Short-Haul Anchor 
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Short-haul Anchor for MD500

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Attachments

The top of the 3-ring release is 

incorporated into the Helicopter 

Attachment Belt (belly-band).

The bottom of the 3-ring release is 

attached to the top ring of the rope using 

two steel carabiners.

The top ring of the rope is then attached 

to the cargo hook.
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The emergency second 

release is mounted between 

the front seats of the 

helicopter and is accessible 

to both the spotter and pilot.
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Short-haul Anchor for Hughes 500D (NOCA)

Primary Anchor: Cargo Hook attached to Aircraft

Secondary Anchor: Belly Band manufactured by Paragear with 3-Ring 

Release; Connected to Cargo Hook and Rope byCMC ProSeries 40kN 

Carabiner (1)
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Outside view; Door-On configuration with release cable from band 

outside of door, enter air vent hole to pilots seat.
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The emergency belly-band anchor release is mounted on side of

Pilot’s seat near collective.
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SEKI AS350B2

Metal Bracket

Developed by

Rogers Helos

The emergency second

release mounted to

partition behind 

collective.

Attachments

The top of the Three Ring is 

attached to the anchor with a 

kador carabiner

The bottom of the Three Ring is 

attached to the top ring of rope 

with a kador carabiner.

The top ring of the rope is then 

directly attached to the main 

helicopter cargo hook.
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Yellowstone SA315B LAMA

Brackett for 3 

ring mount.

Lama

3 ring in 

stowed 

position
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Rescue 8 on 

hook

Figure 8 on a 

bight knot 

3 ring 

attached to 

rope with 2 

locking

carabiners

Location of release 

handle. Lama

Pilot Preference
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2 quick lock aluminum 

or steel carabiners.

2 woven omni slings

CMC Rescue full body 

harness
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Short-Haul Anchor for Bell 205 A++ (Yosemite National Park)

-- Current short-haul system vendor: Air Rescue Systems (ARS)

Belly-band connection (spotters view).

Spotter Location

Emergency system pull sheath (Velcro)

“Secondary” release cable routed to belly of helicopter 

Spotter Location

Emergency release

Pull-handle

Emergency release pull pin

Belly-band connection clip

Belly-band (Heli-Bridle), 9000lb rating
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“Three Ring” release system (back view), assuring 

cable end (yellow) is visible. Rated at 9,000lbs, 

limiting the 10:1 safety ratio to 900lbs (allowing 2 

rescuers and patient/litter per load).

Cargo hook serves as “primary” (pilot) release, 5,000lb rating

2 steel Autolock carabineers linking cargo hook 

equalizer strap and belly-band. Caribiners have a 

minimum of 5,000lbs tensile strength (22.2 KN) and 

meet OSHA & ANSI (American National Standards 

Committee) standards. Steel Autolocks are utilized 

for all attachements except short-hauler to line.

Short-haul anchor ring and rope to external load.

Spotter release cable (final system 

release). Releases complete system 

below helicopter keeping belly-band 

Cargo hook equalizer strap to prevent 

shock-load. 
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Three ring release front side view. 

Spotter attachement (4 points) for short-haul & rappel. 

Helitech STC (#SH261WE) has annual nondestructive testing requirements. All rappel airframes 

are currently testing to meet OSHA 1926.502 

(Personal Fall Arrest System) standards.