[rlmorel]

"...There were five MRAPs loaded on the accident airplane: two 12-ton M-ATVs and three 18 ton Cougars. The evidence showed there were an insufficient number of restraints or tie down points to restrain these vehicles, and the most that could be safely transported on the plane was one M-ATV and no Cougars..."

I feel bad for the crew and their loved ones, but something is wrong here. Am I reading this incorrectly?

If I read this, they are saying there were 54 tons of Cougars plus 12 tons of M-ATVs, and it was only safe to carry ONE 12 ton M-ATV???

That they overloaded it by 66 tons??????????

I have to be reading this incorrectly. If that is the case, this was so grossly overloaded it was dangerous, and the crew just diddly-bopped into the sky with that?

I have to be reading this incorrectly.

[rlmorel]

I meant 24 tons of M-ATVs there...

[Seruzawa]

I noticed that. If the crew took off so overloaded knowingly it would be their responsibility. The crew is also responsible to see that the load is properly secure. What is the basis for this lawsuit? Doesn’t make sense.

[Bogey78O]

Some loadmaster really goofed.

[Pontiac]

If I read this, they are saying there were 54 tons of Cougars plus 12 tons of M-ATVs, and it was only safe to carry ONE 12 ton M-ATV???

That they overloaded it by 66 tons??????????

If you read carefully you will see that it is not the weight of the vehicles but the number of tie downs available on the aircraft that is at issue.

The smaller vehicle required 60 restraints.

The problem as I understand it is that there were not enough hard points on the aircraft for attaching restraints to more than one vehicle.

Obviously, the crew would know the lifting ability of their aircraft. But loading and restraining a load is another matter.

The load master should always fly with the cargo as a matter of course. If you load the plane you are responsible for the lives of those that fly on it. If you don’t have the confidence to fly on the plane that you loaded don’t let it fly.