DD Form 2130-1 C-5 Load Plan Official Guide

DD Form 2130-1 C-5 Load Plan Official Guide – DD Form 2130-1, officially titled the C-5 Load Plan, is the Department of Defense form used to document and certify the detailed cargo and passenger loading configuration for the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy and C-5M Super Galaxy strategic airlift aircraft. This form is essential for safe, efficient, and regulatory-compliant air mobility missions conducted by the U.S. Air Force and other DoD components.

Maintained by the Executive Services Directorate (ESD) under the Washington Headquarters Services, the current edition is dated June 22, 2026 (JUN 2026), with previous editions obsolete. The official PDF is available directly from the U.S. government.

Download the official DD Form 2130-1 here:
DD Form 2130-1 C-5 Load Plan (PDF)

Official form information page:
ESD DD Form 2130-1 Page

What Is DD Form 2130-1 Used For?

The C-5 is the largest aircraft in the U.S. Air Force inventory and serves as a primary strategic airlifter for oversized and outsized cargo. Accurate load planning is critical because of the aircraft’s size, weight-and-balance requirements, and ability to carry up to 36 pallet positions or a maximum payload of approximately 281,000 pounds.

DD Form 2130-1 records:

  • Unit being airlifted and identification code
  • Mission number, aircraft serial number, and configuration
  • Departure and destination airfields
  • Detailed cargo load sequence (item model/nomenclature, transportation control numbers, dimensions, weight, and station locations)
  • Planned versus actual load data and center-of-balance calculations
  • Passenger seating planning data
  • Special handling remarks (shoring, hazardous materials, fuel limits, vent kits, etc.)
  • Certification signatures from the load planner and load validator

The form ensures the aircraft remains within safe weight-and-balance limits, supports rapid simultaneous loading/unloading through nose and aft cargo doors, and provides a standardized record for Air Mobility Command (AMC) operations.

Key Sections of the Form

The two-page form includes:

  1. Header Information – Unit details, movement date, mission number, aircraft data, and airfields.
  2. Cargo Pallet Positions / Load Diagram – Scaled representation (1/4 inch = 3 feet) of the cargo compartment with centerline and off-center positioning.
  3. Load Sequence Table – Increment number, item description, transportation control number, remarks codes, dimensional data, and weight/moment calculations for both planned and actual loads.
  4. Passenger Seats Planning Data – Number of seats, average weight, and total planned weight.
  5. Totals and Center-of-Balance Summary.
  6. Certification Blocks – Load Planned By and Load Approved By (name, grade, organization, date, and signature).
  7. Remarks Codes – Standardized codes covering off-center loads, shoring requirements, hazardous material certification, fuel restrictions, drained/purged equipment, and vent kits.

These elements align with Defense Transportation Regulation (DTR) requirements for aircraft load planning and documentation.

Why Accurate C-5 Load Planning Matters?

Load planners in Air Mobility Command play a critical role in maximizing aircraft capability while protecting safety and mission effectiveness. Improper weight distribution or failure to account for special handling can delay missions, damage cargo or the aircraft, or create flight safety risks.

The C-5M Super Galaxy’s modernized engines, improved reliability, and ability to operate from relatively short runways make precise load planning even more important for global contingency and sustainment operations. The form supports both contingency response and routine strategic airlift missions.

Who Completes and Approves DD Form 2130-1?

Typically, trained load planners (often from Aerial Port or Contingency Response units) prepare the form. A qualified load validator reviews and approves it. Personnel must follow applicable Air Force instructions, the Defense Transportation Regulation, and aircraft-specific technical orders. Automated systems may assist, but the certified paper (or electronic equivalent) form remains the official record.

The DD 2130 series includes load plans for other aircraft (C-130, C-17, KC-10, etc.). Always verify you are using the current edition for the specific airframe. For broader air mobility planning factors, refer to Air Force publications and AMC guidance.

Official C-5 Fact Sheet (Air Mobility Command):
C-5 A/B/C Galaxy and C-5M Super Galaxy

How to Obtain and Use the Form?

  1. Download the latest PDF from the official ESD site linked above.
  2. Complete all required fields accurately using current cargo data, weight-and-balance information, and remarks codes.
  3. Obtain required certifications.
  4. Retain copies in accordance with unit records management and transportation regulations.

Never rely on outdated versions. The JUN 2026 edition supersedes all previous ones.

Conclusion

DD Form 2130-1 remains the standard U.S. Department of Defense document for planning and documenting loads on the C-5 Galaxy family of aircraft. Proper completion supports mission success, aircraft safety, and regulatory compliance across Air Mobility Command and joint operations. Always use the current official form and follow applicable DoD and Air Force guidance.

For the most up-to-date version and any additional instructions, visit the Executive Services Directorate forms portal or contact your unit’s forms management or air transportation office.

Download DD Form 2130-1 (C-5 Load Plan) now:
Official PDF Download