a control system for portable control of a rotary - wing aircraft includes a portable , hand - held , control device executing a control application , the control device operating in a loaded mode when a load is attached to the rotary - wing aircraft and an unloaded mode when no load is attached to the rotary - wing aircraft , the control device presenting command icons in response to being in loaded mode and unloaded mode ; a vehicle management system in the rotary - wing aircraft ; a sensor package on the rotary - wing aircraft ; and a communication system providing communications between the control device and the rotary - wing aircraft , vehicle management system and sensor package ; wherein the control device communicates commands to the vehicle management system to implement loading and unloading of the rotary - wing aircraft .