Loadmasters play a key role in ensuring that air cargo is loaded and transported safely.
An Atlas Air 747 being loaded with cargo. (Photo: Atlas Air Worldwide, Inc.)
The safe and efficient movement of cargo through our skies requires hard work and coordination between large teams of workers. Loadmasters play an important role in this process by ensuring the safe loading, transportation, and unloading of air cargo.
The term loadmaster is most commonly used in a military context. In the United States Air Force, loadmasters are enlisted service members that are part of the aircrew. This means that they fly as part of their work and can be required to take trips all around the world.
Military loadmasters are responsible for supervising the loading and unloading of cargo, equipment, and people. They also ensure that cargo and passengers are properly secured while on board an aircraft. In some militaries – including the U.S. Air Force – loadmasters participate in airdrops, which are deliveries of cargo or troops by parachute. Loadmasters are also responsible for the comfort and safety of passengers on military aircraft.
Additionally, loadmasters have the complex task of planning the placement of people and goods on an aircraft. This task involves many considerations. For example, weight must be properly distributed throughout an aircraft to ensure that it is safe to fly. There are also safety regulations that prohibit certain types of goods from being transported together. During an operational deployment, there may also be a practical need to position certain equipment like ammunition or weapons so that they can be offloaded first.
Some civilian cargo airlines also have loadmasters that fly on board their aircraft. The responsibilities are similar to those of a military loadmaster, with the exception of the airdrop functions. However, many cargo airlines do not have flying loadmasters and instead have load planners on the ground who perform planning functions. At these airlines, supervisors on the ramp oversee and coordinate the loading and unloading of aircraft.
In the U.S. Air Force, loadmasters are enlisted service members, also known as Airmen. This means that a college degree is not required, but prospective loadmasters must meet other eligibility criteria.
Candidates must be a high school graduate or equivalent and be between the ages of 17 and 41. Prospective Airmen must be a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident and not have any serious law violations or medical issues.
Specific requirements for the Loadmaster job include scoring 57 or higher on the military’s multiple-choice test for enlisted roles – the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test – and having the ability to lift at least 70 pounds.
After successfully enlisting in the US Air Force, Airmen attend basic training at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB) in San Antonio, Texas. They must then stay at Lackland AFB for two to three weeks to complete the Enlisted Aircrew Undergraduate Course. That is followed by additional specialized training, including a 5-week Basic Loadmaster Course, a 17-day combat survival course, and a 4-day water survival and parachuting course. Loadmasters can be posted to over a dozen bases across the United States and abroad.
The process of becoming a loadmaster with an airline depends on the employer. Job postings are typically open to the public and require a high school diploma or equivalent. Since air transportation is a 24/7 operation, loadmasters are required to work during the evening, overnight, and on weekends.
Airlines will also typically require loadmasters to have the ability to perform moderate lifting, have proficiency working with computers, and possess strong workplace skills like communication and teamwork.
Some cargo carriers do not have flying loadmasters but instead have employees with other job titles that perform similar tasks. For example, airline load planners are responsible for planning tasks while ramp supervisors coordinate and oversee the physical loading and unloading processes.
U.S. Air Force Airmen are based on their rank and years of service. They are also eligible for food and housing allowances depending on their situation. The base pay for full-time enlisted Airmen – including loadmasters – typically ranges from around $24,000 to $80,000. There are also higher salaries for more senior enlisted personnel.
Civilian loadmasters can expect to make anywhere from $40,000 and $90,000, depending on their employer and experience. Load planners have a similar salary. It is common for there to be opportunities for career progression within the company that would lead to higher salaries.
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