Who supervises the rigging of the load and ensures it is ready to fly?

The correct choice is the signalman because this individual's primary responsibility involves overseeing the rigging process, ensuring that the load is properly secured and ready for flight. The signalman plays a vital role in communicating with the rest of the crew during this process, which is crucial for safety and efficiency. They ensure that all safety protocols are followed and that the load is rigged according to specifications, thus minimizing risks associated with aerial transportation.

While other roles, such as the pilot, ground crew, and loadmaster, contribute significantly to the loading process, they do not focus primarily on supervising the actual rigging. The pilot's main concern is typically the aircraft operation and flight safety rather than the specifics of load rigging. Meanwhile, the ground crew assists with the load preparation and may follow instructions but does not have the supervisory role specifically linked to the rigging of the load. The loadmaster's role does involve some aspects of ensuring the load is safe for flight, but they may not directly oversee the rigging process like the signalman does. Therefore, the signalman is the designated supervisor for rigging the load and confirming its readiness for flight.