TOP STORY >>Airlifters deliver the goods at Balad

By Staff Sgt. LuCelia Ball
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) — To keep troops off the road is an important consideration in the war on terrorism. One way to keep more troops off the road is with airdrop operations.

Recently, Airmen from the 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron used two C-130 Hercules aircraft to drop 31 Container Delivery System bundles over a location in southwest Iraq, providing needed supplies to Iraqi border training teams
supported by the Army’s 82nd Sustainment Battalion. The supplies dropped included ice, tires, concertina wire and food.

“The purpose of an airdrop is to keep convoys off the roads, the traditional way the Army delivers supplies,” said Capt. Brad Moore, a C-130 pilot deployed from the 463rd Airlift Group at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. “An airdrop also decreases the number of ground personnel needed to secure an airfield. It’s safer for the Army and it’s safer for us to deliver this way.”

When the aircrews get advance notice for a drop, they spend their time planning the route and personnel needed, taking into consideration all possible limiting factors, as well as coordinating with all support agencies that factor into the mission.

“We’ve been doing missions like this for the last 50 years, and planning is our key to success,” said Capt. Shannon Vinson, one of the mission’s navigators.

On hand to assist the loadmasters with the cargo preparation were Army quartermasters from the 600th Quartermaster Detachment. The soldiers placed the cargo into proper drop containers and set up the parachute riggings. After that, the loadmasters ensured the load was balanced and weighted correctly on the plane.

“We train every day for this type of mission, and it was exciting to get the chance to come out here for a mission,” said Tech. Sgt. Brian Huffmeyer, a 777th EAS loadmaster.

The two flight navigators analyzed winds and other factors in the drop zone to determine the release point for the load.

The mission began after the supplies were placed in the two aircraft. The two then took off in a formation, one flying after the other, to the drop zone.

“The formation provides mutual support for the aircraft,” Captain Vinson said. “One aircraft can see possible trouble and alert the other.”

Once over the drop zone, the aircrews lowered the rear cargo doors and the loadmasters deployed the cargo loads.

“At that point, pilots put complete trust in our loadmasters in the back of the plane to make sure everything exits the aircraft safely,” said Capt. Jennifer Fuller, a 777 EAS pilot.

With the mission successfully completed, the crew turned around and returned to Balad.

“It was incredible,” said Captain Moore. “This mission was very rewarding after all the training we do. It was a great feeling to actually get out there and complete the mission and help someone out.”