Which is NOT one of the three phases of a sling load operation?

• A. Preparation and Rigging
• B. Inspection
• C. Sling Load Operation
• D. Ground Mission Brief

Answer: (D)

Understanding sling load operations involves three execution phases: preparing and rigging the load, performing the lift, and post-lift demobilization and offload. The ground mission brief is a planning step that happens before those phases to coordinate the mission, safety, and roles; it isn’t part of the actual sling load execution. Inspection is typically included within preparation and rigging to ensure gear and rigging meet safety standards before hookup. The sling load operation phase covers the actual hookup and flight, while the post-lift phase handles disconnect and recovery. So the reason the option doesn’t fit as a phase is that it’s a pre-mission planning activity, not a phase of the sling load operation itself.