What must be removed from the countermeasures system prior to towing?

• A. Magazines
• B. Chaff streamers
• C. Flare cartridges
• D. Guidance fins

Answer: (A)

The key idea is safe ground handling of the aircraft’s countermeasures system. The magazines are the housings that hold the chaff and flare cartridges. Before towing, you remove these magazines so there are no expendables in or connected to the system. This prevents any accidental dispensing if the system is vibrated or actuated during movement.

Chaff streamers and flare cartridges are the actual expendables inside the magazines; removing them individually isn’t the standard safety step because the system could still be connected and capable of discharge if not fully isolated. Guidance fins aren’t part of the countermeasures system in this context, so they aren’t involved in the towing procedure.