DD Form 2130-5 DC 10-10/30CF Load Plan Guide

DD Form 2130-5 DC 10-10/30CF Load Plan Guide – DD Form 2130-5, titled “DC 10-10/30CF Load Plan,” is the official Department of Defense form used to document cargo and passenger load plans for McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 and DC-10-30CF aircraft during unit moves. First issued in September 1998 and still maintained by Washington Headquarters Services (updated as recently as July 2024), the two-sided form remains part of the DD Form 2130 series of aircraft-specific load plans.

These forms support safe, efficient airlift operations under the Defense Transportation Regulation (DTR) and related Air Force instructions. Even as modern military airlifters such as the C-17 and C-5 dominate organic fleets, the DC-10-10/30CF configuration continues to appear in Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) and commercial augmentation scenarios, making accurate use of DD Form 2130-5 essential for mobility planners across the U.S. Armed Forces.

What Is the Purpose of DD Form 2130-5?

DD Form 2130-5 provides a standardized, aircraft-specific template for planning and documenting the placement of cargo (primarily palletized) and passengers on DC-10-10 and DC-10-30CF freighters. Key objectives include:

  • Ensuring compliance with aircraft weight-and-balance limits and center-of-gravity (CG) restrictions.
  • Recording unit identification, mission details, departure and destination airfields, and planned versus actual load data.
  • Supporting in-transit visibility and joint inspection requirements during deployments, exercises, and contingency operations.
  • Serving as the official cargo manifest when automated systems such as ICODES are unavailable.

According to longstanding DTR Part III guidance, the form is intended for unit moves other than routine Air Mobility Command channel missions. Side 1 of the form is oriented toward the DC-10-30CF; Side 2 addresses the DC-10-10CF. Continuation sheets (DD Form 2130C) may be attached when additional cargo lines are required.

When Is DD Form 2130-5 Required?

U.S. Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and joint mobility units prepare DD Form 2130-5 (or its series equivalents) whenever cargo or mixed loads will move on DC-10-10/30CF aircraft. Common situations include:

  • Contingency deployments and redeployments.
  • Joint exercises involving commercial airlift augmentation.
  • Special Assignment Airlift Missions (SAAMs) that utilize Civil Reserve Air Fleet assets.
  • Situations in which the Integrated Computerized Deployment System (ICODES) is not available and a manual load plan is mandated.

Current Air Force guidance (DAFI 10-403, Deployment Planning and Execution) continues to recognize the entire DD Form 2130 series as the approved manual load-plan forms. Load planners must be graduates of recognized courses such as the AMC Airlift Planners Course or equivalent service schools before certifying a plan.

Key Blocks and How to Complete DD Form 2130-5

The form follows the standard layout used across the DD 2130 series. Critical blocks include:

  1. Unit Being Airlifted – Name or number of the deploying unit.
  2. Unit Identification Code – Six-character UIC or Unit Line Number (ULN).
  3. Type Movement Plan – Exercise name, SAAM number, contingency plan number, or “CLASSIFIED” if association of details would raise classification.
  4. Movement Date – Date of airlift in DDMMMYY format (Zulu time).
  5. Unit Aircraft Load Number – e.g., “5 of 47.”
    6–7. Mission Number / Aircraft Number – Normally completed by mobility force or aircrew.
  6. Configuration – Optional free-text remarks (example: “20 seats/10 pallets”).
    9–10. Departure / Destination Airfield – Geographic names; “CLASSIFIED” if required.
  7. Actual Loadout – Scale diagram (¼ inch = 3 feet) showing cargo positions using approved load-planning templates.
  8. Passenger Seats / Planning Data – Maximum seats available after cargo placement, plus estimated passenger weights.
    13–14. Total Weight / Moment and Totals – Planned and actual gross weights and moments; calculation of load CG station.
  9. Certification Blocks – Signature of the qualified load planner and, later, the mobility force or loadmaster who validates actual load data.

Proper completion requires knowledge of aircraft-specific floor-loading limits, restraint criteria, and hazardous-cargo compatibility rules found in the DTR and applicable aircraft technical orders.

Official Download and Related Resources

The current official PDF of DD Form 2130-5 is available directly from the Washington Headquarters Services / Executive Services Directorate:

Download DD Form 2130-5 (PDF)

Additional authoritative references include:

Related forms in the same series cover other aircraft (C-5, C-17, C-130, KC-10, DC-8, etc.) and should be selected according to the actual airframe assigned.

Why Accurate Load Planning Matters?

Incorrect weight-and-balance calculations or improper cargo restraint can jeopardize aircraft structural integrity, flight safety, and mission success. DD Form 2130-5, when completed by certified personnel and cross-checked against actual load data, provides the auditable record required by DoD policy. It also feeds in-transit visibility systems and supports post-mission analysis.

For U.S. military logistics and transportation professionals, mastery of the DD Form 2130 series—including the specialized DC 10-10/30CF version—remains a foundational skill for rapid and safe force projection.

Always verify the latest edition on the official ESD forms site before use, and consult current DTR and service instructions for any supplemental guidance applicable to your unit or mission.