diff --git a/include/prototypes.h b/include/prototypes.h
index 91cbdd08..ddb6ce39 100644
--- a/include/prototypes.h
+++ b/include/prototypes.h
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ extern int pln_onewaymission(struct sctstr *, int *, int *);
 extern int pln_oneway_to_carrier_ok(struct emp_qelem *,
 				    struct emp_qelem *, int);
 extern void pln_newlanding(struct emp_qelem *, coord, coord, int);
-extern int can_be_on_ship(int, int);
+extern int could_be_on_ship(struct plnstr *, struct shpstr *);
 extern int put_plane_on_ship(struct plnstr *, struct shpstr *);
 extern void pln_dropoff(struct emp_qelem *, struct ichrstr *,
 			coord, coord, void *, int);
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/load.c b/src/lib/commands/load.c
index 58b8e917..5dc22be1 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/load.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/load.c
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ load_plane_ship(struct sctstr *sectp, struct shpstr *sp, int noisy,
 	    continue;
 
 	/* ship to (plane or missle) sanity */
-	if (!can_be_on_ship(pln.pln_uid, sp->shp_uid)) {
+	if (!could_be_on_ship(&pln, sp)) {
 	    if (plchr[(int)pln.pln_type].pl_flags & P_L) {
 		strcpy(buf, "planes");
 	    } else if (plchr[(int)pln.pln_type].pl_flags & P_K) {
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/mission.c b/src/lib/subs/mission.c
index 4def9a1b..da8a2c6f 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/mission.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/mission.c
@@ -1012,7 +1012,7 @@ mission_pln_sel(struct emp_qelem *list, int wantflags, int nowantflags,
 		free(qp);
 		continue;
 	    }
-	    if (!can_be_on_ship(pp->pln_uid, ship.shp_uid)) {
+	    if (!could_be_on_ship(pp, &ship)) {
 		goto shipsunk;
 	    }
 	    if (ship.shp_effic < SHIP_MINEFF) {
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/plnsub.c b/src/lib/subs/plnsub.c
index 89b9594b..1b74bd9d 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/plnsub.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/plnsub.c
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ pln_newlanding(struct emp_qelem *list, coord tx, coord ty, int cno)
 	plp = (struct plist *)qp;
 	if (cno >= 0) {
 	    count_planes(&ship);
-	    if (!can_be_on_ship(plp->plane.pln_uid, ship.shp_uid))
+	    if (!could_be_on_ship(&plp->plane, &ship))
 		pr("\t%s cannot land on ship #%d! %s aborts!\n",
 		   prplane(&plp->plane), cno, prplane(&plp->plane));
 	    else if (!put_plane_on_ship(&plp->plane, &ship))
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ pln_sel(struct nstr_item *ni, struct emp_qelem *list, struct sctstr *ap,
 		putplane(plane.pln_uid, &plane);
 		continue;
 	    }
-	    if (!can_be_on_ship(plane.pln_uid, ship.shp_uid))
+	    if (!could_be_on_ship(&plane, &ship))
 		goto shipsunk;
 	    if (ship.shp_effic < SHIP_MINEFF)
 		goto shipsunk;
@@ -951,19 +951,14 @@ take_plane_off_land(struct plnstr *plane, struct lndstr *land)
     putplane(plane->pln_uid, plane);
 }
 
+/*
+ * Could a plane of PP's type be on on a ship of SP's type?
+ */
 int
-can_be_on_ship(int p, int s)
+could_be_on_ship(struct plnstr *pp, struct shpstr *sp)
 {
-    struct plnstr plane;
-    struct shpstr ship;
-    struct plchrstr *pcp;
-    struct mchrstr *mcp;
-
-    getplane(p, &plane);
-    getship(s, &ship);
-
-    pcp = &plchr[(int)plane.pln_type];
-    mcp = &mchr[(int)ship.shp_type];
+    struct plchrstr *pcp = plchr + pp->pln_type;
+    struct mchrstr *mcp = mchr + sp->shp_type;
 
     if (pcp->pl_flags & P_L)
 	if (mcp->m_flags & M_FLY)